Over 200 detained on Day 2 of CJP protest in Delhi; protesters alleged police excesses

New Delhi, Over 200 protesters were detained as they raised slogans and marched towards the Jantar Mantar on Sunday, with several seen being dragged into police buses, as the protest called by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) entered its second day amid heavy security deployment across the capital.

Several journalists, who were covering the protests were also detained by police despite displaying press identification cards, according to visuals emerging on social media. They were seen showing press cards to officials as they were taken away.

Members of several student organisations, including the Students' Federation of India (SFI), All India Students' Association (AISA) and Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS), along with CJP supporters, were detained while trying to march towards Jantar Mantar from different parts of the capital, mainly Connaught Place.


Detentions continued into the evening, with protesters being picked up from various locations even after 6.30 pm.

The SFI organised a women's march around 6.30 pm, after which it alleged that several women protesters were detained from Connaught Place. The organisation claimed that female protesters were detained by male police personnel and alleged that their detention -- after 6 pm -- was illegal.

In a series of posts, the SFI alleged that several police vans and buses carrying detained women did not have a single female police personnel inside and were instead occupied by male officers.

It further claimed that some of the detained women were being held in buses without lights, with male police personnel present around them.

The SFI said its women comrades had been freshly detained and raised concerns about their safety and the conditions inside the police buses.

Visuals circulating on social media showed protesters marching through Connaught Place's Inner Circle, raising slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstrators could be heard shouting "Gyanesh Kumar isteefa do, isteefa do".

Security personnel were seen moving towards protesters and attempting to disperse them. Several demonstrators resisted as police personnel held them by their arms and pulled them towards waiting buses. Some protesters were seen being dragged along the road, while others continued raising slogans as they were taken into custody.

The day witnessed a series of flash protests, with different groups assembling at various locations at different times to try to reach Jantar Mantar. Connaught Place and RK Ashram Marg were among the main points where demonstrations and detentions took place.

AISA protesters marching from RK Ashram Marg metro station were detained as police maintained a heavy presence at several locations to prevent demonstrators from reaching Jantar Mantar.

AISA president Neha Bora was detained along with other protesters near Vijay Chowk during the afternoon.

Visuals showed Bora raising slogans alongside other members of the organisation as security personnel moved towards them. She was seen running as police personnel pursued her, before a few officers blocked her path and caught hold of her.

Women police personnel were then seen grabbing Bora by the arms, while other security personnel held her arms and legs and dragged her away. She was also seen clinging to barricades as fellow protesters held on to her, attempting to prevent security personnel from taking her away. Bora was eventually detained.

The SFI alleged that hundreds of its activists had been detained and taken to Surajmal Stadium in Nangloi. In a statement, the organisation said its national president Adarsh M Saji, Delhi secretary Sooraj Elamon, Central Executive Committee member Abhijith Manilal and several other members were detained during the protest.

CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas was among those detained, police sources said.

The SFI alleged that its leaders were assaulted inside cage-like police vans.

Student organisations and protesters described the detention vehicles as resembling small jails, claiming their interiors were divided into separate compartments with partitions fitted with latches. They alleged that its windows and doors were covered with mesh.

The SFI also claimed Brittas was attacked by Delhi Police personnel and later left by the roadside in an injured condition.

It further alleged that Father Biju Xavier, the vicar of Sacred Heart Church in Delhi, was "arrested" while recording alleged police violence on his mobile phone.

The CJP said several protesters had been detained near Rajiv Chowk metro station and Gurdwara Bangla Sahib.

Videos shared by the organisation showed protesters attempting to form human chains as police personnel moved in to detain them. The organisation alleged that doctors and other demonstrators protesting peacefully near Gurdwara Bangla Sahib were also taken into custody.

In another development, videos circulating on social media showed KYS members staging a protest on boats near Nigambodh Ghat. Holding posters, they raised slogans demanding resignation of the chief election commissioner. Members of the organisation were also seen demonstrating near Connaught Place.

The Revolutionary Workers Party of India (RWPI) was also among the groups participating in protests during the day, with demonstrations at different locations across the capital.

The detentions continued into the evening, with student organisations reporting fresh pick-ups and raising concerns over the treatment of those in custody.

The developments came amid extensive security arrangements across the capital, with police personnel deployed at several locations to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar.

The CJP had announced another demonstration at the protest site at 10 am on Sunday after police prevented its supporters from gathering there on Saturday.

More than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across Delhi as part of security arrangements.

On Saturday, CJP leaders, including Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained amid a major security clampdown, with more than 7,000 protesters detained at multiple locations as police prevented them from reaching Jantar Mantar.

Several opposition leaders, including former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar, were also detained while attempting to join the protest.

The CJP and opposition parties have been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

The CJP said it would continue its agitation until the chief election commissioner resigns.