New Delhi: Delhi Police took Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka into custody on Tuesday morning after they attempted to enter Jantar Mantar, which was removed only a day earlier from the capital’s list of approved protest venues.
Police sources said the two were detained while trying to reach the site.
According to the police, the CJP leaders tried to breach the security cordon around Jantar Mantar after it had been de-notified as a protest location. A video circulated by the party showed some members climbing over a gate and shouting slogans before personnel moved in and detained them, as reported by The New Indian Express.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said Ajinkya Shinde and several other party workers were also picked up.
In a post on X, he wrote: “Cockroaches with the Tiranga sneaked into Jantar Mantar early this morning before they were picked up by Delhi Police.”
He further said: “Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Ajinkya along with other team members have been detained.”
‘Cannot De-Notify Resistance’
Dipke framed the police action as an attempt to silence dissent and directly tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his post. “You cannot denotify the resistance,” he wrote.
The CJP described the brief occupation of the venue as significant despite the detentions, with party activists claiming that they had “reclaimed” Jantar Mantar, as reported by ANI.
New Protest Sites
The confrontation followed Delhi Police’s decision on Monday to withdraw Jantar Mantar’s status as a designated site for demonstrations. The force instead identified Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi as venues where protests and sit-ins may be held.
The change was made on the recommendation of a committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Delhi Police has said it will issue a separate standard operating procedure for demonstrations at the newly designated locations.
Heavy Security Presence
The detentions occurred amid a heavy security presence across New Delhi, where multiple organisations have called for demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protesters have alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and have sought the CEC’s resignation.