Though the Union government succeeded in preventing protesters seeking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation from converging at Jantar Mantar on Saturday (October 10, 2026) through large-scale deployment of security forces, its next challenge appeared to be stopping the largely “leaderless” crowd from regrouping in the coming days.
However, some Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were seen carrying a submachine gun. “Such kind of resources may not be available indefinitely. We know the purpose for which we are here. Even the British put people in jail. If you (the government) are worried about our security, then you should provide it to us and not try to cage us. Delhi Police swiftly blocked the road and detained her along with other activists.
After a hearing in the Supreme Court on Friday (October 9, 2026) regarding the restrictions in Delhi, the government had contemplated offering Ramlila Maidan as an alternative protest site to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) organisers, officials claimed. Pellet guns, which had injured at least four people on July 20 during the protest demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister, leading to one of them losing vision in an eye, were withdrawn from the anti-riot gear of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) for Saturday’s protest. Government officials told The Hindu that mobilising security arrangements to the scale seen on Saturday (October 10) would not be feasible in the coming days, and that keeping protesters under detention for more than 24 hours would not be legal. The Connaught Place block, one of the busiest commercial establishments in the country, which was shut on Saturday (October 10) at the request of the police, cannot be blocked off indefinitely, officials said. Each radial leading to Jantar Mantar was blocked with barricades, and 20-30 armed police and security force personnel were deployed at each location. “Learning from the July 20 protest called by the CJP, several precautions were taken this time.
But, they said, neither the CJP nor the Left youth groups taking part in the agitation requested this. It is impossible to keep the entire area blocked for consecutive days,” said one official. Though a section of the crowd was apolitical, there was a considerable presence of cadres of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Left groups, and there was an anticipation that violence could take place,” said another government official. We told the police that we are going to buy books. Earlier reporting noted: BJP president Nitin Nabin on Saturday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and the CJP of attempting to destabilise the country with the backing of foreign forces, and asserted that the government will deal sternly with their “ill intentions,” while the party workers will foil their design on the ground.
Earlier reporting noted: Other prominent political figures including former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat, former Tripura CM Manik Sarkar and Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas were detained in various locations as they were trying to reach Jantar Mantar. Earlier reporting noted: As police locked down central Delhi, AISA president Neha Bora declared Dilli Haat as the new protest venue. Khushboo, a law student from Pitampura in West Delhi, who had walked miles and hopped between the Metro, autorickshaw and bus to reach Connaught Place on Saturday, said, “It is not necessary that we have a leader.
