Tiranga Rally Hits Connaught Place After Activist's Detention
Protesters and AAP leaders hold a Tiranga rally in Connaught Place after Delhi Police detained CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke under Section 163.
Tensions flared in the heart of the national capital on Friday as protesters organized a Tiranga rally in Connaught Place, coinciding with a wave of detentions by the Delhi Police. The demonstration, which took place outside Central Park, saw a significant turnout including leaders and workers from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), all while the area remained under heightened security surveillance.
The Detention of Abhijeet Dipke
The rally followed the swift action of the Delhi Police, who detained CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke. The operation took place at the residence of Anish Gawande, a spokesperson for the NCP-SCP. Upon his detention, police officials informed Dipke that he was being placed under preventive detention due to the enforcement of Section 163 in the Connaught Place area.
The legal crackdown on Dipke did not stop at his detention. The Delhi Police issued two separate notices to the activist:
- New Delhi District Notice: Issued under the Delhi Police Act, this notice explicitly directed Dipke to avoid visiting Central Park in adherence to the restrictions imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
- South-West Delhi District Notice: This notice referenced a prior incident where Dipke, along with Ashutosh and Saurav, had been detained at the airport and produced in court. It highlighted a bond they had previously signed, pledging not to disturb public peace for a duration of one year.
Wider Protests and Police Action
The unrest was not limited to the CJP activist. In a separate incident near Mandi House, Delhi Police detained workers from the All India Students' Association (AISA) and various Left parties. These protesters were demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Security and Traffic Management
In anticipation of the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' rally, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar held high-level meetings with senior officers to review security arrangements and assess the volatility of the situation in the capital.
To manage the chaos, Additional CP (Traffic) DK Gupta announced a comprehensive traffic advisory. He emphasized that the areas surrounding Connaught Place were expected to be heavily impacted. The traffic police deployed personnel across various zones to regulate the flow of vehicles and monitor social media for real-time inputs on potential disruptions.
"Our primary objective is to ensure that commuters do not face any difficulties. We request that all commuters follow our traffic advisory," stated Additional CP DK Gupta, adding that timely diversions would be implemented to keep the city moving.