New Delhi, October 10: Delhi Police detained nearly 500 protesters, including CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee on Saturday, foiling their attempt to reach Jantar Mantar to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Dipke and other CJP leaders were detained upon landing at Delhi airport from Mumbai, while Rathee was picked up from his residence in Gurugram. Several Opposition leaders, activists, lawyers and journalists were also reportedly detained amid tight security arrangements.

Police deployed more than 30,000 personnel, closed 45 metro stations and imposed traffic restrictions across central Delhi after denying permission for the protest, citing inadequate notice and regulatory concerns. Two police personnel were injured after some protesters allegedly threw stones near Akashwani Bhawan.

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal termed the security clampdown “worse than the Emergency,” while the Congress accused the government of suppressing peaceful dissent. BJP president Nitin Nabin, meanwhile, alleged that the protesters were attempting to destabilise the country.

The CJP said its protest would continue nationwide, with or without its detained leaders. The demonstration was called over alleged voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and changes involving Form 6, used for voter registration.