Where is he? CJP Alleges 'Missing' Status of Detained Activist Abhijeet Dipke
Cockroach Janta Party alleges Abhijeet Dipke is being held in an undisclosed location after his detention during a protest in Delhi.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has raised serious concerns over the disappearance of its activist, Abhijeet Dipke, claiming that his whereabouts remain unknown more than eight hours after he was taken into custody by the Delhi Police. The party alleges a complete lack of transparency, stating that neither the legal team nor the family has been informed of the grounds for his detention.
Search for Dipke Leaves Party in the Dark
Ajinkya Shinde, the national organisation in-charge of the CJP, revealed the frustration of the party's efforts to locate Dipke. According to Shinde, representatives visited the Parliament Street Police Station to inquire about the activist, only to be told that he was not being held there.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Shinde highlighted the communication gap: "It has been more than eight hours since he was detained, yet we still do not know his whereabouts. They are not letting him speak to either a lawyer or our team. We have been unable to ascertain the grounds for his detention."
Shinde further noted that when they sought information, the police simply advised them to contact the police station that had jurisdiction over the area where Dipke was originally picked up, while confirming he was not at the Parliament Street station.
Allegations of Unlawful Preventive Detention
Adding weight to the concerns, Anish Gawande, spokesperson for the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), suggested that Dipke may be under preventive detention. Gawande argued that Dipke was not violating any laws and that there was no basis for an arrest or a breach of any bail conditions.
Gawande painted a picture of a peaceful act turned into a police action, stating: "Waving the tricolour is not a crime; he was simply walking along, carrying the tricolour, when he was picked up." He alleged that Dipke had even offered to move to an alternative location if the police requested, but instead of guidance, he was detained.
The NCP spokesperson warned that the matter would be escalated if Dipke is not released immediately, criticizing the Delhi Police for failing to establish any channel of communication with the activist's legal representatives.
The Spark: 'Lehra Do Tiranga' Protest
The detention occurred on Friday, just before the CJP's planned "Lehra Do Tiranga" protest. The march was organized to voice opposition against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding alleged irregularities in voter lists and electoral rolls.
The police acted swiftly, picking up Dipke from his New Delhi residence. Authorities invoked prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to place him under preventive detention.
Widespread Crackdown in Delhi
Dipke was not the only one targeted during the demonstrations. The police crackdown saw a significant number of arrests and detentions, including:
- Neha Bora, the president of the All India Students' Association (AISA), who was detained near Mandi House.
- Over 150 demonstrators who were taken into custody.
To prevent the protests from gaining momentum, authorities shut down Central Park in Connaught Place for two days. The area was heavily barricaded and saw a massive deployment of paramilitary forces to maintain security.