Delhi Police Detain About 150 Around Cockroach Janta Party's Connaught Place March

Delhi Police detained about 150 people on 16 October 2026 around a tricolour march in Connaught Place, New Delhi, called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Police had not granted permission for the planned march at Central Park, and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora were among those detained.

India TV, ThePrint and Tribune put the number detained at about 150, and The Week says at least 150. For readers in Delhi, the day brought security cordons around Central Park and heavy police deployment, and the accounts still differ on where Dipke was detained, while AISA says Bora's whereabouts after she was held are unknown.

Two CJP Spokespersons Arrested on 13 October

Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, both CJP spokespersons, were arrested on 13 October after unfurling the national flag at Jantar Mantar, ThePrint reports. The Week says they were remanded to judicial custody.

Dipke then called for a Tiranga Yatra after the arrests, according to ThePrint, and the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march was set for Friday, 16 October. India TV reports that the police notices came hours before a march scheduled for 5 pm.

Police Notices and Detentions on 16 October

India TV reports that more than 20 Delhi Police personnel went to Dipke's residence and served him a notice prohibiting him from holding a protest at Connaught Place, citing the risk of traffic disruption, stampede and threats to public safety.

The accounts differ on permission. India TV reports that police had not granted permission for the march. Tribune reports that police denied permission for the planned march at Connaught Place. The Week says police had warned Dipke not to hold it at Central Park, citing security risks and because the venue was not a notified protest site. DNA reports that police in Bengaluru allowed, with conditions, a separate CJP Tiranga Yatra from Town Hall to the Quit India Memorial on Friday, starting at 4 pm.

Dipke was picked up from his residence in Jhandewalan, central Delhi, according to India TV, ThePrint and Tribune. Tribune's live updates put police at his residence at 5.21 pm and the detention report at 6.04 pm. The Week says he was detained near Central Park, and DNA places the detention at the home of an NCP-SCP spokesperson.

Where Dipke and Bora Were Taken

India TV and ThePrint report, citing police sources, that Dipke was taken to Jafarpur Kalan police station.

India TV, The Week and ThePrint all place Neha Bora's detention at Mandi House.

The Week reports that AISA said Bora had been taken away alone and that her whereabouts were unknown.

'They have been taken away alone, and their whereabouts remain unknown,' AISA said.

Flash Protests and Statements From Police, Parties and Organisers

After the detentions, hundreds of people gathered at Connaught Place and Mandi House, waving the national flag, ThePrint and Tribune report. Tribune says protesters walked through the Inner Circle with tricolours and that minor altercations with police followed at Mandi House.

ThePrint's feature says the crowd circled the Inner Circle twice before security personnel dispersed it near the Central Park gates. India TV counts three rounds lasting 15 to 20 minutes.

Police deployment figures differ. The Week says police planned to deploy more than 6,000 personnel in and around the Lutyens area, plus about 5,000 from other districts, for a total of about 11,000, while India TV reports that police deployed over 6,000 personnel and 220 CAPF companies, each of 100 personnel.

A senior police officer quoted by India TV and ThePrint said Dipke and Bora had been detained and that the situation was peaceful.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said young people were being used as pawns in politics he described as anarchy, according to Tribune. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said police could hurt protesters physically but could not break a satyagraha.

Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee called Dipke's detention an emergency that had not been declared, Tribune reports. Gopal Rai of the Aam Aadmi Party said two youths had been sent to jail for hoisting the Tricolour, DNA reports.