Connaught Place Chaos: Delhi Police File Multiple FIRs Over Prohibitory Order Violations
Delhi Police register multiple FIRs and detain over 150 people, including CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, for violating prohibitory orders in Connaught Place.
Delhi Police have cracked down on protesters who defied prohibitory orders in Connaught Place and other strategic areas of New Delhi. Following a series of demonstrations on Friday, officials announced on Saturday that multiple FIRs have been registered against those who gathered despite repeated warnings and official restrictions.
Crackdown on 'Tiranga' Rallies
The tension escalated when crowds gathered around Connaught Place for a Tiranga rally outside Central Park. Despite heightened security and continuous announcements urging the public not to assemble, protesters continued to congregate. Among them were supporters and workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who used the rally to voice their grievances against the Election Commission, alleging irregularities in the electoral process.
The 'Lehra Do Tiranga' rally had been called by Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), who had urged people to assemble at Central Park on October 16 to hoist the national flag.
Mass Detentions and Legal Action
The police operation resulted in the detention of approximately 150 demonstrators. The authorities have confirmed that FIRs are being registered under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for the violation of prohibitory orders. Officials further warned that repeat offenders would face stricter action.
The Case of Abhijeet Dipke
Abhijeet Dipke was among those detained, picked up by police while leaving the residence of NCP-SCP spokesperson Anish Gawande. Dipke was placed under preventive detention and served with two separate notices:
- First Notice: Issued under Section 163 of the BNSS by the New Delhi district, explicitly barring him from visiting Central Park.
- Second Notice: A bond violation notice from the South-West Delhi district related to previous preventive actions involving Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka.
Following these events, action was taken against Dipke under Sections 126 and 170 of the BNSS in a fresh preventive case. He has been arrested and is set to be produced before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court. This is distinct from a previous incident on October 10 where he was detained while traveling on a flight.
Student Protests and Allegations of Misconduct
The unrest extended beyond Connaught Place to the Mandi House area, where workers from the Left parties and the All India Students' Association (AISA) staged protests demanding the resignation of CEC Kumar. Police detained several activists, including AISA National President Neha Bora.
After being released following formal procedures under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act, Neha Bora launched a scathing attack on the authorities. She alleged that ordinary citizens were being treated like "hardened criminals" and questioned the legality of overnight detentions.
"Law and order are being flouted in every possible way. Ordinary citizens are treated as if they were hardened criminals, a practice that has persisted in this country for a long time," Bora stated.
Bora further criticized the police for allegedly blocking her access to legal counsel, claiming her legal team spent five to six hours attempting to reach her. She called for the impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar and a halt to the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, arguing that the current state of affairs in Central Delhi has created "chaos and anarchy."