‘Jailed for waving national flag’: Activists enter 3rd day in custody
Activist Abhijeet Dipke slams the detention of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, alleging they were arrested for waving the national flag at Jantar Mantar.
The detention of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka has entered its third day, sparking intense criticism from supporters who claim the arrests are unlawful. Activist Abhijeet Dipke has raised serious questions regarding the legality of their imprisonment, suggesting that the two men are being punished simply for their patriotism and desire for social change.
Allegations of Illegal Detention
In a scathing post on social media, Abhijeet Dipke expressed outrage over the situation. He highlighted the irony of the arrests, stating that these young men, who abandoned comfortable lifestyles to fight for the country, are now languishing behind bars. "Imagine being jailed in your own country for waving your own national flag," Dipke wrote, framing the detention as a suppression of fundamental rights.
Party member Ajinkya Shinde echoed the sentiment of defiance, asserting that the CJP members would not be intimidated by the legal actions taken against them.
The Jantar Mantar Incident
The controversy stems from an incident on the morning of October 13. According to the Delhi Police, three CJP activists, along with 11 other members, allegedly entered the Jantar Mantar protest site through private premises. This area has since been de-notified as a designated venue for protests and demonstrations.
Under new regulations, authorities have designated alternative locations for demonstrations, including:
- Ramlila Ground
- Burari Ground
- CBD Ground in East Delhi
Police Action and Legal Proceedings
The Delhi Police stated that the arrests were necessary due to alleged repeated attempts to disturb public peace and violate the law. Furthermore, the police accused the activists of using social media to instigate others to engage in similar unlawful activities.
Following the detention of the 14 individuals, the police registered two separate First Information Reports (FIRs):
- FIR No. 289/26: Registered at the Connaught Place police station under Sections 223(a), 332, and 61(2).
- FIR No. 128/26: Registered at the Parliament Street police station under Sections 221, 115(2), 132, 121(1), and 3(5).
The activists were produced before Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) Mahesh Kumar Meena at the Mandir Marg police station. The court has since remanded the CJP leaders to five days of judicial custody.