Parliament gates shut, security officer says ‘underestimated scale of protest’

Earlier, Delhi Police had to send an urgent message to all 14 districts on Monday morning, asking each to immediately depute one Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)-rank officer along with 100 police personnel to the area. This happened despite the deployment of 32 companies of paramilitary forces, comprising more than 2,000 personnel, across New Delhi district. 

On Sunday evening, Delhi Police headquarters had sent a message to all 15 districts, directing personnel to stop political leaders and their key supporters from leaving their homes for Jantar Mantar on Monday morning. “Police personnel from the districts reached their homes around 5 am and stopped them from going to Jantar Mantar,” a source said.

The area around Jantar Mantar was turned into a fortress ahead of the CJP’s march. Barricades were put up, and security personnel armed with teargas shells and anti-riot gear were deployed in heavy numbers. On Monday morning, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke joined the march to Parliament. The march was paused as CJP leaders Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka went to meet Union Minister JP Nadda. 

The protest at Jantar Mantar has witnessed dramatic developments over the past couple of days after activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike, was moved to hospital on Saturday, with Delhi Police citing his health condition.

CJP founder Abhijit Dipke and actor Prakash Raj at Jantar Mantar. Express photo by Praveen Khanna

New CCTVs installed

Around 10,000 protesters gathered in New Delhi district near the protest site, even as police sealed routes leading to Parliament and imposed prohibitory orders in the area. Sources said Delhi Police had installed multiple new CCTV cameras over the past 24 hours on roads connecting Jantar Mantar and Parliament.

Each of the 12 zones in New Delhi district is being supervised by an officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) or Additional DCP, while an officer of the rank of Joint Commissioner or Additional Commissioner has been tasked to oversee every two zones.

Abhijeet Dipke ends fast

Earlier today, CJP founder Dipke ended his hunger strike after a request from activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is still in hospital. Dipke drank juice after Gitanjali Angmo, an educator and Wangchuk’s wife, announced from the Jantar Mantar protest stage that Wangchuk had urged Dipke to break his fast because he needs energy to continue the protest. Soon after, Dipke and Angmo joined the protest march to Parliament. Along with them was the father of Riya Kumari, a NEET aspirant who died by suicide.