New Delhi, Oct 10: Around 1,000 protesters were detained across the national Capital on Saturday while on their way to take part in the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, police said.

Security has been beefed up across the National Capital Region (NCR), including border areas, in view of the protests.

Indian Railways cancelled and rescheduled several trains that were set to arrive in New Delhi, while the DMRC has shut the entry and exit of 45 Metro stations amid measures taken by the Delhi Police to stop agitators from reaching the protest venue at Jantar Mantar.

The police had said on Friday that permission for the CJP’s protest has been denied due to the organisers’ failure to comply with legal directions and their own undertakings during an earlier protest

Earlier on Saturday, CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by the police from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi while on their way to Jantar Mantar to stage a protest, demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Delhi Police personnel entered the aircraft carrying Dipke after it landed at IGI Airport.

Dipke posted the video showing the Delhi Police team entering the flight as he, along with other CJP members, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained from the flight itself.

In a video posted on his social media handle, Dipke was heard telling the police, “…I have come here to be arrested; arrest me.”

The CJP announced the detentions in a post on its social media handle, stating: “Abhijeet Dipke DETAINED! Saurav Das DETAINED! Ashutosh Ranka DETAINED!”

Social media influencer Dhruv Rathee was also detained at his residence in Gurugram.

According to a post on the X handle of the CJP, around 50 police personnel in plain clothes reached Rathee’s residence in Gurugram at around 8 a.m. and took him into preventive custody.

Meanwhile, several Opposition leaders including AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, party leader Gopal Rai and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were also detained while staging protests against the CEC over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the SIR of electoral rolls.

Hingoli, Oct 10: The paternal grandmother of Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke passed away on Saturday in Santuk Pimpri village of Maharashtra Hingoli district.

She had been unwell for the past few days due to a prolonged illness and age-related ailments.

At the time of her death, Abhijeet was in Delhi. He had left Mumbai on Saturday morning to participate in a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. However, he was detained by the police at Delhi airport.

Meanwhile, Dipke’s parents, Anita and Bhagwan Dipke, are currently in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where police personnel have been deployed outside their residence. Following the news of the death, they are expected to leave for Hingoli immediately to attend the last rites.

After learning about his grandmother’s demise, attention has turned to whether Delhi Police will allow Abhijeet Dipke to travel to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar or Hingoli to be with his family during this difficult time.

Further details regarding his release or travel arrangements were not immediately available.

Earlier in the day, Abhijeet Dipke and other CJP members, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) as they arrived ahead of the announced protest at Jantar Mantar, police said on Saturday.

Delhi Police personnel entered the aircraft carrying Dipke after it landed at IGI Airport.

Dipke posted the video showing the Delhi Police team entering the flight as he, along with other CJP members, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained from the flight itself.

In a video posted on his social media handle, Dipke was heard telling the police, “…I have come here to be arrested; arrest me.”

The CJP announced the detentions in a post on its social media handle, stating: “Abhijeet Dipke DETAINED! Saurav Das DETAINED! Ashutosh Ranka DETAINED!”

They were detained ahead of the CJP’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar later in the day against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the country.

Chennai, Oct 10: Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Rahul Gandhi, will address students at Chennai Island Grounds on Saturday as part of his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj (Voice of Students)’ outreach programme, which focusses on concerns over examination irregularities, paper leaks, rising tuition fees and unemployment.

During his visit, LoP Gandhi is also scheduled to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay at his Neelankarai residence.

The meeting is slated for 1.30 p.m., an hour after the Congress leader’s expected arrival at Chennai airport.

The student interaction, scheduled for 5 p.m., follows similar programmes in Kota in Rajasthan, Pune and Nashik in Maharashtra, and Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

The initiative provides a platform for students to discuss difficulties within the education system and challenges in securing employment.

The Tamil Nadu Congress has made extensive arrangements for the Chennai event, erecting a large covered pavilion at Island Grounds.

State Congress president Manickam Tagore inspected the venue and reviewed preparations with senior party leaders. He was accompanied by senior party in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir, joint in-charge Nivedit Alva, ministers Rajesh Kumar and Viswanathan, and Congress legislature party leader Tharahai Cuthbert.

According to organisers, more than one lakh students registered through a website and QR codes circulated across Tamil Nadu.

However, entry to the interaction will be restricted to 10,000 students who have been issued identification cards.

Students from several colleges across the State are expected to attend. Organisers have installed large screens outside the pavilion to enable people gathered beyond the main enclosure to watch the proceedings.

Drinking water and toilet facilities have also been arranged at the venue. Seating provisions have been made for around 350 invited education representatives, including college principals, professors and former principals.

The programme will centre on issues affecting students, including NEET and other examination paper leaks, increasing educational expenses and uncertainty over job opportunities.

LoP Gandhi’s outreach seeks to bring these concerns into direct discussion with young people. Apart from his meeting with CM Vijay and the student interaction, LoP Gandhi is expected to meet Congress functionaries and other prominent political leaders at the Taj Connemara hotel during his Chennai visit.

The State Congress leadership has been coordinating arrangements for the event, including student participation and facilities at the venue, ahead of his arrival. LoP Gandhi is scheduled to leave Chennai for New Delhi on a flight at 9.30 p.m.