Following the arrests of CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, Deepke had announced a ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest at Central Park in Connaught Place, Delhi. However, police detained him before the protest scheduled for Friday could take place. According to available information, Deepke was placed in preventive custody while heading towards Central Park. Neha Bora was detained separately at Mandi House.
The police issued a notice under the Delhi Police Act stating that Deepke should not visit Central Park, where prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force. A second notice was issued by the South West Delhi Police. It informed Deepke that he, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das had been bound down after being detained preventively at the airport and produced before a court. The court had directed them not to disturb the peace for one year.
Central Delhi Placed Under Heavy Security
Delhi Police had made extensive security arrangements on Friday ahead of the announced demonstration. Connaught Place, Central Park and the wider Central Delhi area were placed under heightened security, with more than 6,000 Delhi Police personnel deployed across the area. A total of 220 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were on standby.
More than 10 new CCTV cameras were installed around Central Park and Rajiv Chowk. Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed at key locations, including Connaught Place, Rajiv Chowk, Central Park, Jantar Mantar and Palika Bazaar. Central Park itself was secured through a seven-layer security arrangement. Additional police personnel were also brought in from other districts.
Barricades Set Up at Parliament Street, ITO and Other Locations
According to available information, around 5,000 police personnel were kept in reserve in view of the protest announcement. Barricades were erected at several locations, including Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, ITO and Parliament Street.
Police had refused permission for the march, citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in Connaught Place and surrounding areas. Central Park was closed to the general public on Friday and Saturday.
Police had also stated that they could consider allowing the protesters to hoist the national flag and sing the national anthem at an alternative location if they wished to do so. The detentions, extensive security deployment and restrictions around Central Park marked the authorities’ preparations to prevent the announced demonstration from proceeding at its planned venue.
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