Delhi Police have detained at least 1,000 people across the city ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s planned protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The detentions took place late on Friday and on Saturday morning across several districts, border areas and transport hubs to prevent mass mobilization and maintain law and order.
According to a senior police officer, more than 250 people were detained in southeast Delhi after police identified protesters in Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Nagar. More than 100 people were also detained in east and northeast Delhi, while additional detentions were reported at railway stations, bus stops and near the airport.
Police intensified security around the airport after party co-convenor Saurav Das announced on X that party members would arrive in Delhi on Saturday morning. Authorities suspect that more than 20,000 protesters could gather at Jantar Mantar.
Police also detained protesters near Connaught Place and in Lutyens’ Delhi early on Saturday. Some participants had reportedly stayed at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. The detainees are to be taken to 13 designated detention centers across the city’s districts.
Delhi Police has deployed more than 30,000 personnel, with heightened security at the city’s borders. Inter-district checkpoints have also been established between central and New Delhi, as well as at connecting points involving south, southeast and southwest Delhi.
Heavy traffic congestion is expected around Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Sansad Marg, Ashoka Road, Janpath and neighbouring areas due to extensive security arrangements.
