The United Nations Human Rights Organization has expressed concern over the large-scale police action during the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest in Delhi on Saturday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
During this demonstration, reports of clashes between protesters and police came to light at many places.
UN Human Rights has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of those detained.
In a statement released on Twitter, the organization said, "We are concerned about reports of large numbers of protesters, protest leaders, members of civil society organizations, lawyers and journalists being detained before and during today's large-scale protests in Delhi."
“We appeal to the authorities to fully respect and ensure that the right to assemble peacefully.”
According to BBC correspondent Raghavendra Rao, many CJP workers who were protesting peacefully in Connaught Place were suddenly surrounded by the police. The police started trying to take them into custody and take them to buses.
Meanwhile, a lawyer stopped the bus carrying young protesters. After this, many protesters managed to escape from police custody by getting off the bus.
One of them said that 'until Gyanesh Kumar is removed, his agitation will continue.'
At the same time, an elderly woman said, "We have never seen what happened today. Children, women and youth are being tortured. If we raise our voice against those who are playing with our lives, we are being suppressed."
Another female protestor said, "Even if you detain all our leaders, it will not make any difference. Every cockroach is a leader in itself. We all know our responsibilities and will stand firm."
There have also been reports of clashes between CJP supporters and anti-CJP protesters protesting in Connaught Place itself. BBC correspondent Vishnukant Tiwari told that anti-CJP protesters pushed CJP supporters, raised slogans against them and used aggressive language.
On the call of CJP and many leftist organizations, a demonstration is being held in the capital Delhi on Saturday, October 10, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Meanwhile, CPIML has claimed that AISA National President Neha Bora has been taken to Maidan Garhi Detention Center in Delhi after being detained.
CJP has expressed concern about the security of its three leaders Abhijit Deepke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurabh Das. All three were taken into custody on the plane itself as soon as they reached Delhi on Saturday.
Later late in the evening, Delhi Police wrote on Twitter that on humanitarian grounds, possible help has been offered to Deepke to go to his home.
According to BBC correspondent Dilnawaz Pasha, after Neha Bora along with CPI-ML general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan and socio-political activist Yogendra Yadav were detained from the Safdarjung flyover, Neha Bora posted on Instagram, "I am in custody. No movement."
Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Delhi government ministers Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai were also detained by the police.
According to news agency PTI, 25 thousand soldiers of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in Delhi. Also, 45 metro stations inside Delhi have been closed. Internet has been shut down in Jantar Mantar and within a radius of four kilometers from it.
According to legal affairs news website Live Law, a contempt petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Saturday. The Supreme Court will hold a special hearing on this on Sunday. This contempt petition was filed against Home Ministry Secretary IAS Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner IPS Anurag Kumar and DMRC Chairperson IAS D. Thara.
According to the report of the English newspaper 'Indian Express', at least 1,000 people were detained overnight in Delhi ahead of the protest called by the Cockroach Janata Party and the All India Students Association (AISA).
