NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Saturday detained more than 3,000 protesters attempting to reach Jantar Mantar for the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed demonstration against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.Sources said the protesters were detained across the New Delhi area and other districts, where police are using drones to monitor the movement of people trying to reach the protest site.The protesters were detained at several locations, including near Regal Cinema, Minto Bridge and Akashwani Bhawan.Ahead of the proposed CJP protest at Jantar Mantar, police sources said more than 600 people with criminal records were also detained across all districts of the national capital as part of preventive measures.The preventive action aims to ensure that people with criminal backgrounds do not create a law-and-order situation during the proposed demonstration, the sources said.Police are also closely monitoring the movements of certain people who could mobilise crowds or influence others to participate in the proposed protest, the sources said. Surveillance has been intensified outside the residences of such people as part of the security measures, they added.Special commissioner of police (Law & Order) Devesh Srivastava told PTI, “We have made elaborate security arrangements today and areas neighbouring bordering states have been picketed in coordination with neighbouring police force. Senior officers have been deployed. Along with that we are getting cooperation from citizens and our community policing teams like Aman Committee are working.”Police have appealed to citizens not to participate in the protests, he said.“The situation is under control. People who are going to Jantar Mantar are being detained as we had already said that no permission for such protest is granted,” the senior police officer said.Police personnel have been deployed at strategic locations across the city, particularly along routes leading to Jantar Mantar and at other sensitive locations, to prevent any untoward incident.The security arrangements include heightened surveillance and monitoring of the movement of people suspected of attempting to disrupt law and order. Police are also keeping a close watch on possible mobilisation efforts ahead of the proposed demonstration.Police have said prohibitory orders are in force in the New Delhi area and appealed to people to comply with the restrictions.Security arrangements have been tightened across Delhi in view of the proposed protest, with personnel deployed to maintain law and order and prevent any unauthorised gathering, the sources added.The CJP has called the proposed demonstration against the CEC over allegations of voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and changes relating to Form 6, which is used for voter registration.(With inputs from PTI)
