CJP Activists Detained in Delhi; Dipke Alleges Separation of Volunteers
Cockroach Janta Party activist Abhijeet Dipke alleges CJP volunteers were detained separately and denied access to lawyers by Delhi Police.
In a developing situation in the national capital, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activist Abhijeet Dipke has raised serious allegations regarding the detention of party members following a protest at Jantar Mantar. Dipke claims that those taken into custody are being held in separate locations and are being denied their fundamental legal rights.
Detention and Alleged Separation of Volunteers
The controversy erupted after Delhi Police detained CJP activists Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das, and Ajinkya Shinde. The arrests occurred after the group attempted to breach a police cordon to reach Jantar Mantar, a location that had been denotified as a site for protests.
Speaking on the developments, Dipke revealed that CJP’s legal head, Ratna Singh, had provided updates on the status of the detained members. According to Dipke, the detention has been handled in a fragmented manner to prevent coordination among the activists.
"I spoke to Ratna just now; she told me that Ashutosh, Ajinkya, and Saurav have been kept separately. The 11 volunteers who were with them have been taken somewhere else," Dipke stated, highlighting the strategic separation of the group.
Allegations of Police High-handedness
Beyond the separation of the detainees, Dipke leveled accusations against the Delhi Police regarding the treatment of legal counsel and other party members. He alleged that the police actively prevented the party's lawyers from entering the police station to represent the detained individuals.
The CJP leader further claimed that other party members present at the scene were being threatened with further detention. He criticized the current state of governance, questioning the legality and morality of the police action taken against the group.
The Tricolor Controversy
The protests were centered around the hoisting of the national flag. Dipke expressed disbelief that such an act could lead to criminal charges, questioning the logic behind the crackdown.
"Our team went to Jantar Mantar this morning and hoisted the tricolor. When did hoisting the tricolor become a violation? If Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, Ajinkya Shinde, and the others who were arrested for hoisting the tricolor are charged, then there should be strict action taken against them," Dipke remarked.
He argued that the government's attempt to restrict access to public spaces like Jantar Mantar is an attempt to treat the country as private property. He asserted that the spirit of resistance resides in such spaces, which belong to the 140 crore citizens of India.
Demands for Legal Rights
As the situation unfolds, the CJP is demanding that the Delhi Police adhere to legal procedures. Dipke emphasized the necessity of allowing detainees to consult with their legal counsel immediately, warning against the practice of holding individuals for extended periods without legal access.
"We hope that the Delhi Police will let them talk to their lawyers. It shouldn't happen that they are kept for 24 hours without being allowed to speak to a lawyer. As a legal procedure, they should be allowed to speak to a lawyer because you cannot just pick someone up like this," Dipke concluded.