Delhi Police denies CJP permission for October 10 Jantar Mantar protest, cites maintenance of public safety
Delhi Police has rejected the Cockroach Janta Party's protest request at Jantar Mantar, citing safety concerns and short notice.
Delhi Police has officially rejected a request from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10. The denial comes as the group planned to demand accountability from the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) over allegations of "vote theft."
Reasons for the Rejection
Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police, Nupur Prasad, clarified that the decision was based on several critical factors. According to the police, the application submitted by CJP co-convener Saurabh Das on October 7 did not meet the necessary procedural requirements.
- Short Notice: The application was submitted only three days before the scheduled event, whereas guidelines require at least 10 days' notice.
- Past Non-Compliance: The police noted that during previous protests, the CJP failed to follow lawful directions and violated their own previous undertakings.
- Public Safety: Concerns regarding law and order, traffic regulation, and general public safety played a decisive role in the rejection.
"Because of not following the legal directions, their own undertaking, and the prevalent law and order situation, this time the permission is rejected," the Joint CP stated.
Section 163 BNSS in Effect
The authorities highlighted that Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) is currently in operation within the New Delhi area. This provision allows for preventive restrictions to maintain public order and safety. The police warned that any violation of these provisions would result in strict legal action.
Metro Disruptions and Security Measures
In anticipation of potential unrest and large crowds moving toward sensitive locations, the Delhi Police has reached out to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) with significant security proposals. To manage the situation, the police have suggested several precautionary measures for Saturday, October 10.
Proposed Metro Restrictions
The police have requested the DMRC to consider the following actions to prevent unruly crowd movements:
- Gate Closures: Closing entry and exit gates at 57 identified metro stations.
- Reduced Frequency: Lowering the frequency of trains at these specific stations.
- Timing: These restrictions are proposed to begin at 9 PM on Friday and remain until the situation stabilizes.
The list of identified stations includes major hubs such as Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Janpath, New Delhi, Mandi House, ITO, Supreme Court, Indraprastha, Kashmere Gate, Karol Bagh, INA, Hauz Khas, Lajpat Nagar, Jamia Millia Islamia, Seelampur, Welcome, Shahdara, Rithala, Rohini East, and Rohini West.
While the Delhi Police has formally requested these measures to ensure public safety, it has not been confirmed whether the DMRC has officially implemented all the proposed closures and frequency changes.