Dipke and Neha Bora detained as police shut down CJP's flag protest at Connaught Place

Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke minutes before 5 pm on Friday, as he set out for Connaught Place to lead the “Lehra Do Tiranga” protest he had called. By evening about 150 people had been held across central Delhi, and the lawns of Central Park, where the flag gathering was meant to take place, stayed empty behind a line of police.

AISA president Neha Bora was detained at Mandi House as students and Left workers began a Tiranga march from there. AISA said she had been taken to an “unknown location”.

“Those attempting to disrupt law and order are being detained,” a police officer said, putting the number held at around 150. A senior officer later said: “We have detained Dipke and Bora. The situation is very peaceful.”

A notice, then a police van

More than 20 police personnel went to the place where Dipke was staying in Jhandewalan during the day and served him a notice barring any protest at Connaught Place. It said a gathering there could “hamper emergency access” and disrupt more than 15 lakh traders and employees, and invoked prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. A second notice reminded him of a court direction, issued after an earlier incident at the airport, to keep the peace for a year.

In a livestreamed exchange, Dipke told officers the party had not said it would protest. “We will just wave the Tricolour,” he said. When he tried to leave, an officer told him: “Aap New Delhi nahi jaa sakte. Hum aapko detain kar rahe hain.” Dipke asked: “Maine kaunsa kanoon toda hai?” He was driven to Jafarpur Kalan police station.

Central Park behind a human chain

The New Delhi Municipal Council had shut Central Park for Friday and Saturday, citing “administrative reasons”. Police formed a human chain along its railings, with Rapid Action Force personnel inside and a tear gas vehicle and a Vajra parked outside. More than 6,000 Delhi Police personnel were deployed in and around the area, and traffic curbs ran on more than 20 central roads from 3 pm. Internet services around Connaught Place slowed.

“Section 163 of the BNSS is in force in the New Delhi district,” said Sachin Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police for New Delhi. “Therefore, we appeal to everyone to abide by the law.” Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar went to the DCP’s office at Parliament Street police station to review the arrangements.

Even so, the Tricolour came out. Hundreds of CJP supporters and students walked the inner circle shouting “Jai Hind”, broke up when police moved in, regrouped and sang the national anthem. There were minor scuffles as officers tried to clear them. A man was detained near Gate 6 of Rajiv Chowk Metro station.

CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar led workers of the SFI, DYFI, AISF and AIYF. “In the coming days, this movement will intensify. We will ensure Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation,” he said.

Beyond Delhi

Bengaluru Police refused permission for a march from Town Hall, saying a High Court order makes Freedom Park the city’s only protest venue. In Mumbai, activist Anjali Damania joined a Tiranga march. “We will wave our country’s Tricolour, and no one can stop us from doing so,” she said.

Traders in Connaught Place, who have complained of lost sales through the protests against the Chief Election Commissioner, got the quiet evening the police wanted. “People are afraid to come here,” said Manpreet Singh, treasurer of the National Restaurant Association of India.

Police had not said by late evening whether Dipke, Bora and the others would be released overnight. CJP co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka remain in judicial custody over their entry into Jantar Mantar on Tuesday.