New Delhi, Oct 13: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday while attempting to enter Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, police said. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said several other team members, including Ajinkya Shinde, were also detained.
The detentions took place amid growing protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
CJP Protesters Raise Slogans at Jantar Mantar
In a post on X, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said party members had reached Jantar Mantar early in the morning carrying the national flag. He alleged that several members of the group were detained by Delhi Police shortly afterwards.
A video shared by Dipke showed protesters, including Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, climbing over a locked gate to enter the protest site. The demonstrators raised slogans such as “Gyanesh Kumar isteefa do” (Gyanesh Kumar, resign) and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” while holding the national flag.
Police personnel soon arrived at the location and detained the protesters.
Abhijeet Dipke Says ‘You Cannot De-Notify the Resistance’
Reacting to the detentions, Dipke said that Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, Ajinkya Shinde and other CJP team members had been taken into custody.
“You cannot de-notify the resistance,” Dipke said in his post on X, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
His statement came amid concerns raised by various organisations over the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and demands for accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Security Tightened in New Delhi Amid SIR Protests
Delhi Police has increased security across New Delhi following calls by several organisations to protest against alleged irregularities in the SIR process.
Authorities have deployed additional police personnel at key locations to maintain law and order and prevent disruptions.
The detention of CJP members comes amid the wider debate over electoral roll revisions, election transparency and the right to peaceful protest. Further details about the legal action, if any, against the detained protesters were not immediately available.
