Delhi Protests: CJP Claims Govt Plans To Arrest Dipke, Spokespersons Ahead Of October 10 Stir Against CEC

Security officials and protesters clashed for at least three hours in central Delhi on Sunday as demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar entered their third consecutive day. The protests are linked to allegations of irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

More than 120 people were briefly detained as police maintained that the demonstrations had not been granted permission. Protesters alleged that security personnel manhandled them, while police said minimum force was used to maintain law and order.

The protests began on October 2, with the detentions subsequently prompting calls to intensify the agitation. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by Abhijeet Dipke, has announced a larger demonstration for October 10. Dipke’s CJP had held a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on October 2.

The agitation also intensified after three women journalists alleged that police officers sexually harassed them during Saturday’s protest against the Election Commission at Jantar Mantar.

Delhi Police said on Sunday that the complaints had been forwarded to the Crime Branch for a detailed investigation.

“On October 3, during the protest in New Delhi area, while being in law and order situation, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers,” the Delhi Police said in a post on X. “The New Delhi district has received their complaints and the same are transferred to crime branch for fair and impartial enquiry.”

Anti-Gyanesh Kumar Protest: Key Points

• Delhi Police deployed around 5,000 personnel, including Rapid Action Force (RAF) and other paramilitary personnel, ahead of Sunday’s protest marches from India Gate to Jantar Mantar. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) have been in force in the area since July.
• A Citizens’ March led by the All India Students’ Association (AISA) began at 4pm, followed by an Indian Youth Congress march led by national president Uday Bhanu Chib at 5pm along the same route.
• Around the same time, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and a separate group of independent journalists also organised protest marches to India Gate against the CEC.
• The marches initially remained peaceful but tensions rose as protesters moved towards Jantar Mantar. Police stopped the demonstrators at several locations, including Ashoka Road near the Andhra Bhawan roundabout and later near the Le Méridien and Shangri-La hotels.
• Police detained dozens of protesters, including AISA national president Neha Bora. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma said Bora was taken away in a car that was a “government vehicle with two female staff in the back.”