Heavy traffic congestion was reported across parts of Delhi on Saturday as police intensified security arrangements ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) planned protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Barricades, vehicle checks and heightened surveillance have slowed traffic on several key roads, affecting commuters travelling for work and other purposes despite advance warnings about diversions. Police personnel have been deployed at multiple locations, while searches along routes leading to the protest venue have added to the congestion.
The protest was called over allegations of deliberate changes to Form 6 applications and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The security operation has also restricted protesters’ movements at several points across the capital.
GPO, Kalindi Kunj and Seelampur among affected areas
The Delhi Traffic Police said vehicular movement around the General Post Office (GPO) was affected along Baba Khadak Singh Marg, Ashok Road and the stretch from Pandit Pant Marg to Mahadev Road.
A separate traffic jam was reported at Kalindi Kunj on the route connecting Noida and Delhi. In Seelampur, security checks and restrictions on commercial vehicles contributed to congestion, forcing some commuters to continue their journeys on foot.
One local resident said the traffic was so severe that they could not find a bus and had to walk nearly a kilometre. The commuter said they were trying to reach New Delhi but had been forced to continue on foot because of the jam.
The congestion came as police conducted checks at key stretches and reinforced security around areas considered sensitive because of their proximity to the planned demonstration.
Traffic police say staff deployed at 30 key stretches
Dinesh Kumar Gupta, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic Zone-II), said traffic personnel had been deployed across the affected areas, with particular attention to 30 key stretches.
He said the police would introduce diversions wherever obstructions arose and were working to facilitate the movement of ordinary commuters. Gupta also said personnel were patrolling the area and monitoring traffic conditions, adding that any blockade caused by a demonstration would be addressed through appropriate diversions.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Headquarters, Traffic) Sanjay Kumar Tyagi said traffic had been diverted on certain roads in the New Delhi district because of law-and-order considerations.
Tyagi said the police were issuing traffic advisories and had deployed personnel at diversion points to guide commuters towards alternative routes. He added that officers were making efforts to minimise inconvenience and help people reach their destinations.
Despite these assurances, traffic in several areas remained slow as security checks and restrictions affected road movement.
CJP leaders detained at airport and Gurugram home
The security operation extended beyond traffic management, with police detaining several prominent figures associated with the planned agitation.
CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were detained aboard their aircraft after it landed at Delhi airport. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained at his home in Gurugram. Reports said the four were taken to different locations.
Other protesters who were detained were taken to Chhatrasal Stadium, according to reports.
The detentions disrupted the movement of protesters seeking to assemble at Jantar Mantar. However, the CJP said its agitation would continue across the country, regardless of whether its leaders were present.
In a video recorded inside the aircraft as police personnel moved in, Dipke compared the situation with the Emergency imposed under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
“This is not something even Indira Gandhi did during Emergency; this is a worse situation than that, and we are all prepared for arrest,” he said.
Das, meanwhile, alleged that the authorities were attempting to stall a constitutional movement through the use of force.
CJP vows to continue agitation against Gyanesh Kumar
The CJP's planned demonstration centres on allegations concerning the SIR exercise and changes to Form 6, which is used for applications to include names on electoral rolls. The party has demanded action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over what it alleges are irregularities in the process.
With senior leaders detained and security restrictions in force, the party maintained that the campaign would continue nationwide “with or without leaders”.
The combination of road diversions, barricades, vehicle checks and detentions left commuters facing delays across several parts of Delhi as police sought to prevent unauthorised gatherings around the protest venue.