Jantar Mantar Protest Swells Despite Police Barricades and Internet Ban

On Thursday, the standoff between police and protesters at Sansad Marg intensified as thousands gathered at Jantar Mantar, defying restrictions and a suspension of internet services. The protest, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has been ongoing for over a month, drawing students and activists demanding unspecified reforms.

Following minor clashes on Wednesday night, security was stepped up. Internet services were suspended under The Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024, in a 1.5 km radius around Jantar Mantar from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., later extended until midnight. Sixteen metro stations were also closed, and police barricades were set up to prevent protesters from reaching the site.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged that “BJP goons” had infiltrated the protest and were engaging in stone-pelting to discredit the movement. “People are being sent from outside to deliberately disrupt the protest. We have been sitting here for a month. No such incident has happened in a month. But now, as this protest has grown, goons are being sent from outside by the BJP to deliberately incite people and are pelting stones. The police bring trucks of stones here and then the BJP’s goons pelt these stones to defame the people of CJP,” he told media.

Police denied any untoward incidents on Thursday, with an officer on duty stating, “They have been here since last night and throughout the day too. There has been no untoward incident so far today.” CJP volunteers formed a human chain to separate protesters from police.

Despite the restrictions, the crowd continued to grow. Near Nizamuddin, police stopped autorickshaws carrying students to the protest site, citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (formerly Section 144). A police officer explained, “We are only stopping students who are going for the protest... We are making them understand that they could get injured over there.” Students reported being forced to walk long distances due to metro closures and auto diversions.

Simran Kaur, 21, a Delhi University student, walked about 3 km from New Delhi metro station to reach the protest. “Autos were not coming to this area and we had no other option,” she said. Vishwamohini, 19, a BA History (Hons) student, took a bike taxi but had to walk the last stretch due to diversions.

N. Sai Balaji, former national president of the All India Students’ Association, who has been at the site since June 20, said the actual protest size is much larger. “Despite 16 metro stations being closed and students being stopped... the crowd you see here is only the tip of the iceberg,” he noted.