Most Dangerous Countries: India Places Protest Leaders in Five-Day Custody After Jantar Mantar Flag-Waving

Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after they breached the recently denotified Jantar Mantar protest site to wave the national flag, leading to their five-day judicial custody as opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi condemned the action amid broader INDIA bloc protests against the Chief Election Commissioner in most dangerous countries. [1]

CJP Leaders Sent to Judicial Custody

Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained on Tuesday morning after the duo, along with 12 other CJP leaders, breached Jantar Mantar to wave a tricolour as part of their protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. [1] Das, Ranka and CJP's national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde were produced before the Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg Police Station on Wednesday morning, where they were sent to five-day judicial custody. [1] Shinde, meanwhile, was let out after signing a personal bond. [1] The three were detained early Tuesday after they allegedly breached barricades and entered the protest site, which was recently denotified as a designated venue for demonstrations, and raised slogans demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. [3] Police registered a case against them on charges including trespassing, violation of prohibitory orders, breach of a peace bond and obstructing a public servant from discharging official duties. [3] Ranka and Das had signed a bond to maintain peace for a year after they were detained on Saturday during a previous protest in the national capital, officials said. [3] Advocate Abhisht Hela, who is representing Das, Ranka and Shinde, questioned the grounds for sending the leaders to judicial custody and accused police of making false claims in court. [3] CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde accused the government of misusing its powers to curtail people's fundamental rights. [3] He said the two leaders had gone to Jantar Mantar along with him and other party volunteers, where they waved the national flag and raised the slogan 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. [3]

Rahul Gandhi and Opposition Response

Lok Sabha leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has backed the Cockroach Janta Party, stating that waving the tricolour at Jantar Mantar is “not a crime.” [1] Taking to X, Gandhi stated that “waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice.” [1] The Congress MP added that all protests across India are united by one cause. “Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights. Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it,” he wrote. [1] CJP leaders sent to judicial custody after the action drew reactions from other figures including AIMIM's Owaisi and AAP leaders. [4]

INDIA Bloc March and Police FIRs

Led by leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, top functionaries of the INDIA bloc and supporters had gathered at Barakhamba Road and marched to Supreme Court. [2] Delhi Police have registered four FIRs in connection with INDIA bloc's protest on Monday, allegedly over violation of prohibitory orders clamped in the area. [2] Police sources said the cases pertained to alleged breaking of barricades and defacement of roads. [2] Two of the FIRs were registered at Tilak Marg police station, while Mandir Marg and Barakhamba Road stations registered one FIR each. [2] On the INDIA bloc protest Monday, police said prohibitory orders under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force at the time, making the gathering unauthorised. [2]

Disinformation Campaign Concerns

Separately, four FIRs have been registered by Delhi Police over an alleged disinformation campaign, with investigators suspecting Pakistan-based social media handles of attempting to exploit the ongoing protests to spread anti-India narratives and to disturb communal harmony. [2] They have also written to social media platforms seeking the removal of 500-odd pieces of objectionable and misleading content. [2] More than 100 suspicious social media handles, several of which are believed to be operating from Pakistan, are on the police radar. [2] Sources said intelligence agencies and police have found that several social media accounts allegedly operated from across the border have been circulating old and edited videos of riots and violent incidents, falsely portraying them as footage of recent protests in Delhi. [2]

Jantar Mantar Denotification Context

On October 11, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued an order designating Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as venues for protests and demonstrations, following which Jantar Mantar was denotified as a designated protest site. [3] The CJP has criticised the move, arguing that shifting demonstrations away from the political centre of the national capital would weaken the visibility of public dissent. [3] The Delhi Police on Wednesday said Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde have been placed under preventive arrest for allegedly entering the Jantar Mantar area without authorisation. [5] In a press statement, the Delhi Police on Wednesday cited “repeated violations” and instigation as reasons for preventive action against CJP's Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. [4]

CJP Protest Demands in Most Dangerous Countries

The CJP has been protesting against the Election Commission and seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. [5] In videos taken by the group at the site and uploaded to social media, Ranka can be seen waving the national flag as the group raises slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Gyanesh Kumar Isteefa Do”. [5] CJP's national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde asserted that the five-day judicial custody would not intimidate the party's leaders, claiming that Das and Ranka remained determined to continue their fight. [3] Shinde appealed to people across the country to unite against the government, alleging that the authorities were using state machinery to violate fundamental rights. [3]

What to watch next: CJP founder Dipke claims a meeting will be held shortly to decide the future course of action while AIMIM's Owaisi moves the Supreme Court against SIR with the top court set to hear the plea on Thursday. [4]