Escalation: Delhi Police detains thousands before CJP protest

Delhi Police carried out a citywide sweep on October 10 to block the Cockroach Janta Party’s planned Jantar Mantar protest over alleged voter‑list manipulation. Around 3,000 people were detained, from former chief ministers and CJP leaders to students and influencers. The large assembly at Jantar Mantar never formed.

The dragnet began at the airport, with CJP leaders Abhijit Dipke, Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Rana detained on arrival from Mumbai. Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, Manik Sarkar and Pinarayi Vijayan were among those picked up in central Delhi. By evening most detainees were released, except top CJP leaders and influencer Dhruv Rathee.

The city ran on a 23‑zone security grid with more than 35,000 personnel, multilayer barricades and a ban on public assemblies under Section 163 of the new criminal procedure law. Hundreds of low‑floor buses and 30 temporary holding sites stood ready, with Metro closures, curbs on incoming trains and a 24‑hour internet shutdown around Jantar Mantar. Detentions took place at Connaught Place, Bangla Sahib, Minto Bridge, Dak Khana and near Regal Cinema, and stone pelting at two spots left two police personnel injured.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources