Delhi protest crackdown: 20 FIRs registered, assault on cops among charges

The protest, which called for Kumar's resignation, was met with a massive security deployment and widespread detentions across the national capital

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police has registered 20 FIRs in connection with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, officials told news agency PTI on Sunday.

The cases include charges of assaulting police personnel and obstructing public servants from discharging their duties. One FIR registered at Kamla Market police station relates to the alleged assault on students and manhandling of women during the protest. Four men claiming links to the right-wing Hindu Raksha Dal have been arrested in the case, officials said.

The protest, which called for Kumar's resignation, was met with a massive security deployment and widespread detentions across the national capital on Saturday. More than 7,000 people, including opposition leaders and activists, were detained as police erected barricades and deployed thousands of personnel to prevent demonstrators from reaching Jantar Mantar. Several incidents of stone-throwing were reported, leaving more than 15 police personnel injured, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal.

Supreme Court steps in over restrictions

Amid the fallout, the Supreme Court on Sunday directed authorities to ensure that people gathering peacefully are not illegally detained and that Delhi Metro services operate normally, subject to law and order conditions. The bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also directed that internet services remain undisturbed and that lawyers and journalists not be obstructed from performing their professional duties.

The court issued a notice to the Centre while hearing a plea seeking contempt proceedings over alleged violations of its directions concerning restrictions on metro and train services during the protest. It also ordered authorities to remove a notice board outside the Supreme Court premises announcing the imposition of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which restricts assemblies of five or more people.

CJP alleges 'open Emergency'

Meanwhile, CJP activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka accused the administration of imposing excessive restrictions to suppress what they described as a youth-led movement. "The situation across the country right now mirrors an open Emergency. Such repressive conditions have not been witnessed since the dictatorial regime of 1975," Das said, alleging that Delhi had been turned into a "cantonment".

He also criticised the closure of metro stations, suspension of train services and shutdown of markets, claiming the restrictions were inconveniencing ordinary citizens and turning public sentiment against the protest. Ranka separately condemned the police's handling of activist Abhijeet Dipke, alleging that personnel showed insensitivity while informing him of his grandmother's death.