CJP Leaders Detained Again at Jantar Mantar as Delhi Police Seeks Central Forces Till October 20
Delhi Police detained senior Cockroach Janta Party leaders again on Tuesday after they attempted to enter the Jantar Mantar area despite the site no longer being designated for authorised protests.
The latest detentions involved Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde, who were stopped while attempting to breach police restrictions around Jantar Mantar. The incident marks another escalation in the ongoing protest campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
At the same time, Delhi Police has asked the Union Home Ministry to extend the deployment of 273 companies of Central Armed Police Forces until October 20, citing intelligence inputs that further demonstrations could take place across several sensitive locations in the capital. The Economic Times
CJP leaders return to Jantar Mantar despite restrictions
The fresh confrontation came only days after some CJP leaders were released following earlier preventive detention.
Police detained Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after they attempted to move towards Jantar Mantar, while Ajinkya Shinde was also taken into custody during the action.
The protest site had recently been removed from Delhi’s list of designated demonstration venues, with authorities shifting authorised protests to alternative locations including Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground.
Despite that decision, CJP leaders have continued insisting that Jantar Mantar remains symbolically important because of its proximity to Parliament and central government institutions.
Tuesday’s action therefore appears to be a direct challenge to the new protest restrictions. Indian Express - Bangla
Leaders had recently been released on peace conditions
The latest detentions are particularly significant because Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka had reportedly been released only two days earlier under conditions requiring them to maintain peace and good behaviour.
Their attempt to return to Jantar Mantar could now raise questions over whether authorities consider the latest action a violation of those release conditions.
Police have not yet publicly detailed what additional legal action, if any, will follow from Tuesday’s detention.
The immediate effect, however, is that the confrontation between CJP activists and Delhi Police has resumed even after the weekend’s large-scale crackdown. The Times of India
Delhi Police asks to retain 273 CAPF companies
Alongside the fresh detentions, Delhi Police has sought an extension of large-scale central-force deployment across the capital.
A police communication sent to the Home Ministry requested that 273 CAPF companies remain deployed until October 20.
The existing deployment had been due to expire on October 12.
Police cited intelligence inputs suggesting that further demonstrations could occur at Jantar Mantar, the Election Commission headquarters and other sensitive locations.
Authorities have also flagged Parliament House, India Gate and offices or residences of ministers as locations that may require heightened security.
The request does not itself mean the extension has already been approved. Moneycontrol
Police warn of a prolonged protest campaign
The request for additional security reflects concern that the protest movement may continue beyond isolated demonstrations.
Police have reportedly cited statements from CJP figures suggesting that activists intend to sustain pressure over the Election Commission controversy.
Student organisations, the Bhim Army and other political or civil-society groups have also been mentioned as potential participants in future demonstrations.
That raises the possibility that Delhi could continue seeing smaller flash protests even if authorities prevent a single large gathering from taking place.
The strategy has already been visible during recent demonstrations, when protesters shifted locations after security forces blocked access to Jantar Mantar and other central Delhi areas. The Indian Express
Election Commission remains at centre of protests
CJP and allied protesters continue to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The movement alleges that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls resulted in improper removal of legitimate voters.
Opposition parties have raised similar concerns and have now also taken the dispute into the Supreme Court.
The Election Commission has rejected allegations of political manipulation and maintains that the revision exercise is intended to improve voter-roll accuracy.
It has also said eligible voters who are incorrectly removed have procedures available to restore their names.
Jantar Mantar becomes new flashpoint after policy change
The decision to remove Jantar Mantar from Delhi’s designated protest-site list has added a new dimension to the dispute.
Authorities argue that moving demonstrations to larger grounds can reduce disruption in central Delhi and make crowd management easier.
Protest groups argue that shifting demonstrations farther from Parliament and government institutions reduces their visibility and political impact.
Tuesday’s attempt by CJP leaders to re-enter Jantar Mantar shows that this dispute is no longer only about electoral rolls.
It has also become a confrontation over where protests can take place and how far authorities can restrict access to symbolic public spaces.
What happens next
The immediate question is whether the Home Ministry approves Delhi Police’s request to retain 273 CAPF companies through October 20.
Authorities will also need to decide whether Tuesday’s detention of CJP leaders results in fresh cases or action relating to the conditions attached to their earlier release.
For the protesters, the key issue is whether they continue attempting demonstrations at Jantar Mantar or shift to the newly designated protest venues.
The latest developments make one thing clear: despite the weekend crackdown and the removal of Jantar Mantar as an authorised protest location, the movement has not ended and Delhi Police is preparing for the possibility of another sustained phase of demonstrations.
