Around 500 detained, 50 'anti-social elements' with criminal antecedents apprehended ahead of CJP protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar: Delhi Police

Delhi Police on Saturday (Oct 10) detained around 500 people who arrived in groups from different locations ahead of the planned Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in the national capital. According to the police, nearly 50 people with criminal antecedents were also apprehended as part of preventive security measures. “Around 500 people coming in different groups from various locations have been detained. In addition, nearly 50 anti-social elements with criminal antecedents have been picked up so that they do not disturb the atmosphere or incite trouble,” Delhi Police said.

The protest has been called by CJP and student groups at Jantar Mantar to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Six detention centres set up across Delhi

Delhi Police said the New Delhi district had been divided into 20 operational zones, with dedicated detention centres established for each zone. Stadiums across the capital have also been converted into temporary detention facilities.

Those detained are to be taken to six designated centres: Chhatrasal Stadium, Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Yamuna Sports Complex, Surajmal Stadium, the community centre in Daulatpur and the community centre in Pandrawal.

Several demonstrators were detained after gathering at Jantar Mantar and Sansad Marg, with extensive barricading and security deployments at multiple locations. Police have also increased checks at entry points to the capital.

Abhijeet Dipke, CJP activists detained

Among the detained is Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, who along with the outfit's spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka,was detained by the Delhi police on Saturday (Oct 10) ahead of a planned protest. The CJP activists were on a flight to Delhi from Mumbai to participate in the protest when they were detained.

In a video he posted on Instagram, Dipke can be heard alleging," So, you can see that Delhi Police is entering the plane to arrest us. They are all entering the plane. We just landed. All the Delhi Police officers are standing in the aisle. They are trying to arrest us from inside the plane. The entire Delhi Police is getting on the plane...This is the fear of Narendra Modi...Not even Indira Gandhi did this during the Emergency. All we wanted to do is a peaceful protest, and they are picking us up from the flight like we are criminals." Watch the video here.