Delhi police detain student leaders and activists ahead of planned Tiranga march

UPDATE - follow-up to CJP Tiranga protest LIVE | Abhijeet Dipke, Neha Bohra detained on way to 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protest: Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and AISA chief Neha Bohra on Friday as authorities moved to block a planned 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protest in Connaught Place.

Detentions And March

Officers picked up Mr. Dipke from his stay in Jhandewalan outside the residence of NCP-SP spokesperson Anish Gawande, while Ms. Bohra was detained near Mandi House as student groups gathered to march toward Central Park. Police cited prohibitory orders under Section 163 to enforce preventive detention, blocking roads with barricades and police vehicles while Central Park remained closed for the day by the New Delhi Municipal Council. Several youth organisations including SFI, DYFI, AISF, and AIYF alongside MPs John Brittas, Dr. V. Sivadasan, and A.A. Rahim reached Central Park, while an Aam Aadmi Party march from its central Delhi headquarters was also halted by security forces.

Protests And Demands

The protests center on demands for the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and the repeal of the 2023 Election Commissioner Appointment Act. The action follows the recent judicial custody of CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka in Tihar Jail for allegedly violating peace bonds and trespassing at the denotified Jantar Mantar protest site. Meanwhile, business representatives noted that frequent demonstrations have severely hurt local sales in Connaught Place.

Context

Prohibitory orders and heavy police deployment are commonly used by authorities in central urban areas to maintain public order during major political demonstrations. Such restrictions often lead to friction between security personnel and opposition groups attempting to mobilize public rallies.