Neha Bora, Other Protesters Detained as Delhi Police Block CJP’s Tiranga March; AAP, SFI MPs Face Restrictions

Delhi Police detained All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora and other protesters in central Delhi on Friday, October 16, as security forces moved to prevent demonstrators from reaching Connaught Place for the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march.

Police stopped protesters near the Janpath–Tolstoy Marg crossing and detained Bora and others in the Mandi House area. The action came after CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained earlier in the day, ahead of the planned demonstration demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The police restrictions also affected other political and student groups seeking to join the protest.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members were stopped by security personnel while heading towards Connaught Place, while Students’ Federation of India (SFI) members and CPI(M) MPs, including John Brittas, prepared to march towards Central Park.

AAP Protesters Stopped, SFI and CPI(M) MPs Move Towards Central Park

AAP members were also stopped by security personnel as they attempted to reach Connaught Place. The party had extended support to the protest, which was planned as a show of opposition to the Election Commission’s handling of voter-roll revisions.

SFI members and CPI(M) MPs, including Rajya Sabha member John Brittas, also planned to march towards Central Park. Their participation widened the mobilisation beyond CJP, bringing student organisations and opposition parties into the protest.

The developments unfolded amid a heavy security deployment across central Delhi, with barricades and police personnel stationed at key intersections to prevent demonstrators from converging on the proposed venue.

Why Are Protesters Demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation?

The ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march was called by CJP and backed by student organisations after police detained party activists following a protest at Jantar Mantar earlier this week.

The activists had raised slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Opposition parties and campaigners have questioned the revision process and raised concerns about eligible voters being removed from electoral lists.

The Election Commission has defended the exercise as a process to verify voter lists and identify duplicate or ineligible entries. The BJP has rejected allegations that the revision is politically motivated.

CJP and its supporters say the march is intended to demand accountability from the Election Commission and demonstrate opposition to the arrests of their members.

Police Restrictions and Security Deployment

Delhi Police had denied permission for the proposed march, citing prohibitory orders, congestion risks and the potential disruption of commercial activity in Connaught Place. Restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were imposed in parts of central Delhi.

Central Park was also closed to the public on October 16 and 17 as authorities prepared for the planned gathering. Security arrangements covered Connaught Place and surrounding roads, with police attempting to prevent protesters from assembling at the venue.

The detentions of Dipke, Bora and other demonstrators marked another escalation in the dispute over the right to protest and the authorities’ stated concerns about public order.