NEW DELHI: Delhi witnessed an extraordinary security clampdown on October 10 as police moved to prevent the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed protest against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar. What began with barricades, transport restrictions and preventive detentions escalated into a day of mass arrests, street demonstrations, reported clashes and a fierce political confrontation over the right to protest.By late afternoon, Delhi Police detained more than 3,000 people across the national capital. Those detained included CJP leaders, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, former Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, student activists, lawyers and other opposition leaders. Two police personnel were reported injured in incidents involving stone-pelting.As the detentions mounted, opposition leaders accused the government of suppressing dissent. BJP defended the police action and the SIR process, accusing the protesters of attempting to create unrest.Here is how the day unfolded for protesters, from the security measures before sunrise to the political confrontation that followed.
Early morning: Delhi tightens security, detentions begin
Delhi Police denied permission for the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar, citing procedural lapses and law-and-order concerns. Authorities planned to deploy around 35,000 police and paramilitary personnel, with barricades, checkpoints, metro restrictions and mobile internet curbs in parts of central Delhi. Services to and from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations were expected to be particularly affected.Police personnel wearing body cameras and drones were deployed for surveillance.Police also detained 30–40 people with criminal records as a preventive measure. At least 600 people had been detained across Delhi by 9am.
Morning: CJP leaders and Dhruv Rathee detained
CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained inside an aircraft shortly after it landed in Delhi from Mumbai. CJP called the action pre-planned and demanded their immediate release.YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was also detained from his Gurugram residence. CJP accused the government of targeting young people who questioned its actions.CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh and content creator Kavya Karnatac were also reported detained. CJP later alleged that Ratna Singh was being held inside a car surrounded by around 35 police personnel and the deputy commissioner of police. Police also placed several Congress workers and members of other political parties under house arrest ahead of the demonstration.Meanwhile, BJP president Nitin Nabin accused Rahul Gandhi and CJP associates of attempting to destabilise the country for political gains, alleging that their actions were driven by foreign forces.
Late morning: Students, lawyers and activists detained
More than 400 SFI members, other student activists and lawyers marching from the Supreme Court towards Jantar Mantar were detained. SFI and Left party workers staged protests at INA and near the BJP headquarters as the protest crackdown continued.Former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was also reported detained.Student leader Neha Bora, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, and activist Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav were among those detained near INA market while heading towards the protest. Bora had led a march from Jor Bagh towards Dilli Haat-INA.CJP named Ajinkya Shinde to lead the protest in a pre-recorded video. Following the announcement, Ajinkya urged protesters to turn any location where police stopped them into their “Jantar Mantar”.Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described the situation as an “undeclared Emer-GenZ”. He criticised the heavy security deployment, train cancellations, metro closures and restrictions on movement.
Afternoon: Kejriwal and Mamata detained
Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, former Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee were detained while heading to join the protest. Mamata said they had been taken around in a prisoner van for two hours. She announced a sit-in at Dwarka North police station and said she would join the INDIA march on Monday.Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi criticised the crackdown ahead of the planned protest. Kharge accused the Modi government of suppressing dissent, saying it had turned the “mother of democracy” into a “muzzled democracy”. Meanwhile, Priyanka alleged that the government had curtailed constitutional rights.Police officials reported stones being pelted at a bus carrying detained protesters in Jhandewalan. Two police personnel, including a Pink Force member, were reported injured. Another officer was injured in alleged stone-pelting near Baba Kharak Singh Marg in Connaught Place, where police said a scuffle broke out as they tried to disperse protesters.By late afternoon, the reported detention count had risen from at least 600 in the morning to around 1,000 by afternoon.
BJP defends SIR, criticises opposition
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra accused Rahul Gandhi of attempting to drag the President into a street protest. The party defended the police action, describing it as a victory for democracy over “mob rule”. Nabin had earlier accused the protesters of trying to destabilise the country.
Court intervention and challenges to restrictions
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant communicated to authorities that lawyers detained while peacefully protesting outside the Supreme Court should be released. The intervention followed an urgent letter from the Supreme Court Bar Association, which said several advocates had been taken to the Yamuna Sports Complex.CPM general secretary MA Baby filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging restrictions imposed ahead of the protest, including curbs on metro services and mobile internet connectivity. TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale also wrote to the Delhi high court’s acting chief justice, seeking suo motu intervention over the transport restrictions.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
Evening: Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi sharpen attack
Rahul Gandhi targeted PM Modi, Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, CEC Gyanesh Kumar and national security adviser Ajit Doval. He accused them of attacking the Constitution and vowed to continue the fight to defend democratic rights. Mamata Banerjee said she would remain in Delhi and join the INDIA march on Monday, in protest against the treatment of young people and other protesters.Meanwhile, an open letter signed by 124 former IAS and IFS officers strongly defended the Election Commission and the SIR process, adding to the debate over the electoral-roll revision.
