Delhi Police detain Cockroach Janta Party's Dipke, Ranka and Das ahead of Jantar Mantar protest

Delhi Police have detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das in Delhi. The action was taken in the run-up to a protest scheduled for October 10 at Jantar Mantar.

The protest was being held to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and to oppose the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Details of where the three were taken after being detained, and what action will follow against them, are not yet available.

The party had announced a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, through which it was to press for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. The party has also objected to the process of special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

It had earlier emerged that police had not granted permission for the protest. Security arrangements in Delhi had been tightened in view of the agitation. Discussion has begun in political circles after news of the three being detained.

Delhi Police personnel are said to have boarded the flight on which Abhijeet Dipke had arrived in Delhi. The aircraft had landed at IGI Airport. Dipke told the police, "I have come here to be arrested, arrest me." The Delhi Police personnel replied, "No, this is not an arrest. Please cooperate."

Abhijeet Dipke is the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party. Ashutosh Ranka is the party's national spokesperson, while Saurav Das looks after work as chief spokesperson. The party has held agitations on questions concerning young people and several public issues. The organisation had earlier also protested over the alleged paper leak in the NEET examination. It has now taken up agitation on the demand for transparency in the revision of electoral rolls and in the election process.

The political climate is currently heated over the special intensive revision of electoral rolls. The Opposition alleges that a large number of voters' names were removed because of the process. The Cockroach Janta Party and some Opposition parties have questioned the Election Commission on the issue. However, the Election Commission and the BJP have already denied these allegations.

News of the three being detained has emerged, but detailed official information is not available on the exact legal ground for the action, where they were taken, or whether they will be released. Further developments are being watched. More details about the action will become clear only after official information comes from the police.