West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was reportedly detained by Delhi Police outside her residence on South Avenue in New Delhi over allegations of an unlawful gathering.
Banerjee was staging a sit-in protest outside her residence alongside Trinamool Congress leaders Dola Sen and Derek O’Brien. Delhi Police personnel arrived and asked them to leave and withdraw the demonstration. However, Banerjee and the other party members continued their sit-in, after which they were detained.
AISA national president Neha Bora detained
Police have detained Neha Bora, national president of the All India Students’ Association (AISA). She was reportedly inside a police bus as protesters gathered around it.
The incident took place amid protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In a post on social media platform X, AISA said it had planned to hold a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi but shifted the venue to Delhi Haat because of heightened security arrangements. Police maintained tight security across New Delhi. Surveillance and security measures continued even after the protest venue was changed.
AAP alleges Manish Sisodia detained in Chandigarh
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that its leader Manish Sisodia had been detained by police in Chandigarh. The party made the allegation in a post on X on Saturday, attaching several videos of the incident.
In its post, AAP wrote: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah cannot suppress voices of dissent. Vote thief Gyanesh Kumar, your time is up. It’s all over, brother!” Police had not immediately issued a detailed statement regarding the alleged detention of Sisodia in Chandigarh.
Ajinkya Shinde to lead CJP protest at Jantar Mantar
Ajinkya Shinde, who handles organisational responsibilities for the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), is set to lead a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar while three senior party leaders—Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka—remain in detention.
The announcement was made in a prerecorded video message by CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke. In a post on X, the party said Dipke had recorded the video the previous night because he feared he might be arrested.
AAP alleges tight security around Kejriwal’s residence
The Aam Aadmi Party alleged that Delhi Police had imposed tight security around the residence of its national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal. The party made the allegation on Saturday, October 10.
On Friday, Kejriwal had said that he and members of his family would join a planned demonstration organised by the Cockroach Janata Party.
Mahua Moitra condemns detention of CJP leaders
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra expressed anger over the detention of Cockroach Janata Party leaders at Delhi airport, describing the action as “cowardly”.
In a post on X, Moitra wrote: “Thieves. Cowards. Bullying. They entered an aircraft to detain the CJP party. This is our Emergency, India.”
The CJP had planned a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Its leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained after arriving at Delhi airport to attend the demonstration.
The incident sparked reactions across the political spectrum. Moitra’s criticism of the detentions added to the debate over the political situation in India.
Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi detained in Mumbai
Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and an activist, was detained by Mumbai Police. He was scheduled to attend a protest at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai in support of the CJP. However, he was detained before joining the demonstration.
Three senior CJP leaders detained at Delhi airport
The Cockroach Janata Party had planned to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Before the protest, police detained three party leaders—Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka—after they arrived at Delhi airport. They were travelling to the capital to participate in the planned demonstration against Kumar.
Security was tightened across Delhi ahead of the protest. More than 40,000 personnel from Delhi Police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were reportedly deployed across the capital. Barricades and spike strips were installed at various locations.
The protesters are demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Security was strengthened on key roads and in important areas of the capital ahead of the demonstration. Authorities also increased surveillance and checks around Jantar Mantar, the planned protest venue. The CJP’s planned demonstration over alleged irregularities in the electoral roll revision process, coupled with the large-scale deployment of security personnel, has heightened political tensions in Delhi.
