Security tightened across capital; protesters demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged voter list irregularities

New Delhi, October 10 : More than 2,000 people were detained across Delhi on Saturday as security forces moved to prevent a protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the All India Students’ Association (AISA) against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in voter lists.

The protest, planned at Jantar Mantar, triggered a major security operation across the national capital, with more than 20,000 police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel deployed, according to reports. Authorities had denied permission for the demonstration, citing security concerns.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by Delhi Police shortly after their flight landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The leaders had been travelling to Delhi to participate in the protest.

With the party’s senior leadership in custody, CJP organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde called on supporters to continue towards Jantar Mantar, urging them to demonstrate wherever police stopped them.

The crackdown also saw the detention of several prominent opposition leaders, including Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee. Former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar were also reported to have been detained.

Banerjee later began a sit-in protest at Dwarka North Police Station along with party MPs, alleging that they had been taken away in a police vehicle and driven around for nearly two hours. She said she would not return to Kolkata on Saturday night.

The developments prompted sharp reactions from opposition leaders. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the government over the police action, while Kejriwal condemned the detention of CJP leaders and questioned the restrictions imposed on protesters.

Meanwhile, clashes were reported near Connaught Place, close to Jantar Mantar, where police personnel were injured after stones were allegedly thrown during a confrontation with protesters. Several people were detained in connection with the incident.

Security arrangements had also been tightened along the Delhi-Noida border, with Border Security Force personnel deployed alongside Delhi and Noida Police. The Chilla border checkpoint was among the locations where checks and restrictions were imposed ahead of the protest.

The planned demonstration also affected rail and road movement. Several mail and express trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations during the morning hours were cancelled at their originating stations amid security concerns and the possibility of traffic congestion. Railway sources later said there were no plans for further cancellations.

The CJP and AISA called the demonstration to demand Kumar’s resignation over allegations concerning the revision of electoral rolls. The controversy centres on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which opposition parties have questioned, alleging that the process could undermine voters’ rights.

The Election Commission’s voter verification exercise has become a major political issue, with opposition parties demanding greater transparency and accountability in the revision of electoral rolls.

Police restrictions and the detention of protesters continued through the day as CJP leaders maintained that the agitation would go ahead despite the action against their leadership