The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced that its protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will continue on Sunday, October 11, after a major security crackdown in Delhi on Saturday disrupted its planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Party leaders said the agitation would continue until Kumar resigns, even as police detained thousands of protesters, opposition leaders and activists across the national capital.
The protest centres on alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Critics have questioned the exercise and its impact on voter lists, while the Election Commission and the BJP have rejected allegations of wrongdoing.
CJP Announces Fresh March On Sunday
CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde announced that the party would return to the streets on Sunday. Delhi Police had denied permission for Saturday's demonstration, citing security concerns and the timing of the application.
Restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were imposed in sensitive areas, with barricades set up across central Delhi.
Traffic Diversions Likely At 30 Locations
The Delhi Traffic Police has warned of possible traffic diversions at around 30 locations from 6 am on Sunday, October 11, depending on the situation.
The affected locations may include Dhaula Kuan Flyover, Jhandewalan, Mandi House, Minto Road, Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar Road, Lodhi Road Flyover, Patel Chowk, Rail Bhawan, Gol Dak Khana, Windsor Palace and the Jai Singh Road-Sansad Marg crossing. Commuters have been advised to plan their journeys in advance.
Over 7,000 Detained; CJP Leaders Remain In Custody
More than 7,000 people were reportedly detained while attempting to reach the protest site, including opposition leaders, activists, journalists and CJP members. According to PTI, police later released the detained protesters, including opposition leaders, while CJP leaders and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee remained in custody.
Those detained included opposition figures Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Pinarayi Vijayan, along with actor Imran Khan and activist Tushar Gandhi.
UN, Amnesty Raise Concerns Over Crackdown
The UN Human Rights Office had voiced concern about reports of mass detentions and called on Indian authorities to uphold the right to peaceful assembly.
Amnesty International condemned restrictions before the march and called on authorities to allow peaceful protests and remove what it described as sweeping and disproportionate restrictions.
Sonam Wangchuk Warns Of Hunger Strike
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk warned that he could launch a hunger strike or hold a peaceful protest in Leh or Delhi if restrictions were not withdrawn. He called on the government to resolve the issues through dialogue.
CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Detained; Grandmother Dies
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport after arriving from Mumbai for the protest. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was also detained at his Gurugram residence.
Dipke's 85-year-old grandmother, Savitribai Dipke, died in Maharashtra's Hingoli district while he remained in detention. Delhi Police reportedly informed him of her death and offered assistance to help him travel home for the funeral.
CJP appointed Ajinkya Shinde to lead the agitation and continued to demand the release of its detained leaders.
Metro Stations Closed, 254 Trains Cancelled
Entry and exit gates at 45 Metro stations were closed from Friday night until 6 pm on Saturday, with interchange facilities available at the affected stations except New Delhi Metro station.
A total of 254 trains, including 75 Mail and Express trains and 179 local trains, were reportedly cancelled between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday.
Mobile internet services were suspended within a four-kilometre radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing from 10 pm on Friday until 10 pm on Saturday.
Stone-Pelting Incidents Reported; Rekha Gupta Praises Police
Stone-pelting incidents were reported in Delhi amid the crackdown. Stones were allegedly thrown at a bus carrying detained protesters in Jhandewalan, while another incident near Akashwani Bhawan reportedly left two police personnel injured.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta praised the police and security personnel for handling the situation, describing the developments on the streets as “extremely unfortunate”.
CJP has vowed to resume its march on Sunday and continue its demand for Kumar's resignation, while traffic restrictions and heightened security measures may affect movement across the capital.