New Delhi: Jantar Mantar is like a battleground now. Declaring the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) planned march to Parliament (Sansad Chalo) Monday an ‘unauthorised procession’, the Delhi Police has put in place a massive blockade to thwart the event.
More than 300 police personnel across several layers of security screening have besieged the site of the protest by the youth-led movement at Jantar Mantar in the heart of the Capital. The entire area has been barricaded off like a fallout zone; riot-control vehicles with teargas mounts guard the barricades in turn.
“We have stationed at least 300 officers around the protest site, including Quick Response Teams, with Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)- and Additional DCP-level officers monitoring the situation closely,” a senior Delhi Police official told ThePrint, adding that the hiked security is a response to the large number people trooping in to Jantar Mantar since Saturday.
Entry to the protest site is under hawk eyes. One is required to put bags through a conveyor-belt scanner; a sticker then certifies it. Female and male officers frisk women and men respectively.
In addition to all the police brass at the site, another senior officer told The Print, several officers in civilian clothes are part of the crowd and around the stage to “monitor activities of the protestors”.
The police bandobast is not limited to Jantar Mantar or the New Delhi district that contains the 18th-century monument and Parliament House. Sources in the Delhi Police told The Print that inter-state teams are in operation. “We have also formed inter-state teams to ensure that a large number of vehicles or groups do not cross over to Delhi. The teams are constantly monitoring the borders and checking each vehicle passing through,” said the officer.
The gauntlet was thrown hours before the announced July 20 protest, with the Delhi Police saying that no permission has been sought for the protest. “In view of reports of a proposed march to Parliament by CJP on 20.07.2026 (Monday), Delhi Police hereby categorically clarifies that no permission has been sought or granted for any such protest march/procession,” said DCP (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma.
In a post from his official X account, he further stated that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita is in force across the New Delhi district. “Accordingly, protest marches, processions, demonstrations and assemblies of five or more persons are strictly prohibited, except at the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar, with prior permission,” said the DCP’s post. The official post clarified that the move has been put in place as the Monsson Session is set to commence from 20 July 2020. “Strict security arrangements are in place to ensure public safety, security of protectees, and the protection of vital government installations,” it added.
The DCP further added that any person violating these prohibitory orders shall be liable for prosecution under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other applicable provisions of law. “Delhi Police appeals to all citizens to respect the law, refrain from participating in any unauthorised gathering or march, and cooperate in maintaining public peace, safety and security,” it read.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das did not respond when ThePrint reached out to him. Any subsequent comment will be incorporated into this report.