CJP alleges Delhi Police brutally assaulted Mumbai leader Pranay Ahire during Jantar Mantar protest

What happened at Jantar Mantar

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has accused Delhi Police of brutally assaulting its Mumbai leader, Pranay Ahire, during a security crackdown on anti-Election Commission protests in the capital on Saturday.

The party said Ahire was taken to hospital after officers used force against demonstrators attempting to gather near Jantar Mantar. Protesters had gathered across New Delhi to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged vote theft linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

"A uniform is not a licence to assault people," the CJP said in a statement posted on social media platform X, warning police officials that the incident would not go unchallenged.

How Delhi Police locked down the capital

Security forces cordoned off central Delhi before dawn on Saturday, blocking access to Jantar Mantar with multi-layered barricades, tear-gas units, and drones. Border Security Force (BSF), Rapid Action Force (RAF), and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed across transit hubs and entry points, while dozens of inbound trains were cancelled.

Delhi Police personnel detained CJP leaders Abhijit Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka directly from an aircraft after their flight from Mumbai landed in the national capital. Dipke later criticised the action, stating that political leaders were being treated like criminals.

In neighbouring Gurgaon, police detained prominent YouTuber Dhruv Rathee from his residence in Sector 56 after he arrived in the region to join the demonstration.

Widespread detentions and clashes across New Delhi

Despite the police lockdown, sporadic protests erupted across the city as demonstrators attempted to evade security cordons.

At Jantar Mantar, economist Jean Dreze was detained alongside student activists from Jawaharlal Nehru University affiliated with the Students' Federation of India (SFI). Nearby at Gol Dak Khana Roundabout, security forces chased and detained a procession led by former JNU student union president Aishe Ghosh. Protesters seeking shelter inside the nearby Gurdwara Bangla Sahib were repeatedly pursued by police as they attempted to launch brief demonstrations outside.

Later in the day, All India Students' Association leader Neha Bora, social activist Yogendra Yadav, and advocate Prashant Bhushan were taken into custody near AIIMS and the Safdarjung flyover.

Addressing social media videos showing officers wearing shoes on the grounds of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi Police stated that personnel were walking along the public passage where all visitors retain their footwear before reaching the designated shoe repository. Police added that they are taking legal action against those sharing the clip, alleging a "malicious intent" to inflame religious sentiments.