The Supreme Court has fixed a special hearing on Sunday (October 11) on a contempt petition challenging the blanket shutdown of public transport, rail and metro services in Delhi, as authorities tightened restrictions to deter a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The petition contests the sweeping closure of transit corridors and metro stations designed to stop demonstrators converging in the national capital over the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar and the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Restrictions on Saturday
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Saturday extended the closure of entry and exit gates at 45 metro stations by four hours, till 10 pm, while interchange facilities remained available at all affected stations except New Delhi. On Friday night, mobile internet services were suspended within a 4-kilometre radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing on the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs, from 10 pm on October 9 to 10 pm on October 10.
Hundreds of CJP volunteers, along with other citizens and workers, were taken from multiple locations across Delhi to Chhatrasal Stadium in Model Town on Saturday, where they were being held, according to those present. Delhi Police, which denied permission for the demonstration, detained CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke along with leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka as soon as they landed in Delhi.
International concern
The UN human rights office raised concerns over the mass detentions in Delhi, urging Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and calling for the immediate release of anyone arbitrarily detained.
The CJP said its protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR process would carry on "with or without its leadership."
In Mumbai, actor Imran Khan and his girlfriend, actor Lekha Washington, were detained by police on Saturday at August Kranti Maidan, the proposed venue for a demonstration in support of the CJP. Khan later shared a picture on social media with the caption: "Apparently I'm going for a drive," while Washington posted a video from inside a police vehicle saying they were being taken away. The crackdown drew criticism from film-industry members including Prakash Raj, Anurag Kashyap and Vishal Dadlani. Media reports put the number detained in Delhi at nearly 4,000.
Sources:
Anti-CEC protest LIVE updates — The Hindu
Imran Khan detained in Mumbai amid CJP protest; Prakash Raj, Anurag Kashyap slam crackdown — The Indian Express
CJP Protest October 10: Internet services suspended within 4 km radius in New Delhi — Jagran Josh
The petition contests the sweeping closure of transit corridors and metro stations designed to stop demonstrators converging in the national capital over the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar and the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Restrictions on Saturday
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Saturday extended the closure of entry and exit gates at 45 metro stations by four hours, till 10 pm, while interchange facilities remained available at all affected stations except New Delhi. On Friday night, mobile internet services were suspended within a 4-kilometre radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing on the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs, from 10 pm on October 9 to 10 pm on October 10.
Hundreds of CJP volunteers, along with other citizens and workers, were taken from multiple locations across Delhi to Chhatrasal Stadium in Model Town on Saturday, where they were being held, according to those present. Delhi Police, which denied permission for the demonstration, detained CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke along with leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka as soon as they landed in Delhi.
International concern
The UN human rights office raised concerns over the mass detentions in Delhi, urging Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and calling for the immediate release of anyone arbitrarily detained.
The CJP said its protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR process would carry on "with or without its leadership."
In Mumbai, actor Imran Khan and his girlfriend, actor Lekha Washington, were detained by police on Saturday at August Kranti Maidan, the proposed venue for a demonstration in support of the CJP. Khan later shared a picture on social media with the caption: "Apparently I'm going for a drive," while Washington posted a video from inside a police vehicle saying they were being taken away. The crackdown drew criticism from film-industry members including Prakash Raj, Anurag Kashyap and Vishal Dadlani. Media reports put the number detained in Delhi at nearly 4,000.
Sources:
Anti-CEC protest LIVE updates — The Hindu
Imran Khan detained in Mumbai amid CJP protest; Prakash Raj, Anurag Kashyap slam crackdown — The Indian Express
CJP Protest October 10: Internet services suspended within 4 km radius in New Delhi — Jagran Josh
