Tiranga march tensions escalate; Neha Bora detained after Abhijeet Dipke

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police detained All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora on Friday, ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The development comes hours after CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained at his residence, shortly before the protest was scheduled to begin. Earlier in the day, more than 20 police personnel visited Dipke’s residence and served him a notice warning against actions that could affect the rights and routine activities of citizens, traders, commuters and patients. Despite the police action, the party had maintained that it would go ahead with the march.

The detentions came amid heightened security arrangements in the national capital ahead of the proposed march, scheduled for 5 pm at Central Park. Delhi Police had asked Dipke to call off the event, citing concerns over public order, traffic disruption and inconvenience to traders and commuters. Authorities also closed Central Park for October 16 and 17 and imposed restrictions on public gatherings in the area.

The protest was organised in support of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were sent to five days of judicial custody following their detention for demonstrating with the national flag at Jantar Mantar on October 13, after the site had been denotified as a protest venue.

The CJP has been demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, claiming that the exercise has adversely affected voters. The Election Commission has denied allegations of political bias and said voters whose names were wrongly removed can re-enrol.

Opposition groups and student organisations, including AISA and Left-wing groups, have supported the broader protest movement. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also been reported among the groups backing the demonstrations.