Delhi Police Detain CJP Activist Abhijit Dipke Before ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ Rally
Delhi Police placed CJP activist Abhijit Dipke under preventive detention ahead of the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protest at Connaught Place.
In a preemptive move to maintain law and order, the Delhi Police have detained Abhijit Dipke, an activist associated with Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP). The detention occurred as Dipke was leaving the residence of NCP-SCP spokesperson Anish Gawande, just as preparations were mounting for the proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest scheduled at Central Park in Connaught Place.
Preventive Detention and Section 163
The action was taken under the umbrella of preventive detention. According to police officials, Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) is currently in force in the Connaught Place area, restricting unauthorized gatherings. Upon detaining Dipke, officials explicitly informed him that his detention was necessary due to these existing legal restrictions.
The Delhi Police further served Dipke with two separate notices to ensure compliance with the law:
- New Delhi District Notice: This notice, issued under the Delhi Police Act, strictly directed Dipke not to visit Central Park, citing the restrictions imposed under Section 163 of the BNSS.
- South-West Delhi District Notice: This second notice referenced a prior preventive action involving Dipke and two others, Ashutosh and Saurav, who had been detained at the airport and produced in court. It reminded Dipke of a bond he had signed, pledging not to disturb public peace for a duration of one year.
Police Warnings and Legal Boundaries
Earlier in the day, police teams visited the residence where Dipke was staying in the capital. During this interaction, officials clarified the legal boundaries regarding the planned 'Tiranga Yatra'.
The police emphasized that while waving the national flag (the Tiranga) is not against the law, organizing an unpermitted march or gathering a crowd in the restricted zone would constitute a violation of Section 163 of the BNSS. They warned that if the CJP proceeded with the event at Connaught Place without permission from the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), legal action would follow. Additionally, Dipke was reminded of the necessity to treat the national flag with the utmost respect, as mandated by the Flag Code.
Security and Traffic Management
The detention comes amid a high-alert status in the national capital. Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar recently held meetings with senior officers to review security arrangements and assess the potential impact of the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ rally.
Addressing the logistical concerns, Additional CP (Traffic) DK Gupta stated that a comprehensive traffic advisory has been issued. He noted that areas surrounding Connaught Place are likely to experience disruptions, and personnel have been deployed to regulate the flow of vehicles.
"We are definitely monitoring social media as well. If we receive any inputs regarding potential disruptions on the ground, we will implement timely diversions to keep traffic moving," said DK Gupta.
The traffic police have urged commuters to follow the official advisory and plan their travel carefully to avoid inconvenience during this period of heightened security.