Police detained 6 to prevent confrontation between 2 groups during CJP protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar

NEW DELHI: Six people were detained by the Delhi Police on Saturday to avert a possible clash between two groups during a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar, officials said.

The detentions were carried out as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order after police received intelligence inputs about possible tensions between supporters and opponents of the online movement, officials said.



According to news agency PTI, the preventive action was taken to ensure the protest concluded peacefully and to prevent any major law-and-order disruptions.

The protest, led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, attracted hundreds of participants, primarily students and young professionals, who assembled at Jantar Mantar to demand the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment processes.

Officials said the six individuals were taken into preventive custody after they were allegedly found attempting to disrupt the protest near the demonstration site. However, the situation remained under control, and no untoward incidents were reported.

A robust security arrangement has been put in place at Jantar Mantar and other strategic locations across the national capital. More than 1,000 police personnel have been deployed in the New Delhi district and other sensitive areas, while heightened security measures have also been implemented at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and border entry points.

Senior police officials are closely monitoring the situation on the ground. Barricades have been installed around the protest venue to manage crowd movement, maintain order, and prevent any interaction between rival groups.

The protest saw students participating while wearing cockroach masks and carrying flowers as symbolic props. Several school students were also present at the gathering, accompanied by their parents. Demonstrators raised slogans demanding accountability for alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment processes.

The CJP emerged as a youth-driven online movement in response to allegations of irregularities in several examinations and recruitment processes, including NEET, CUET, CBSE-related exams, and SSC recruitment tests. Over the past month, the group has gained traction through social media campaigns, calling for greater transparency, fairness, and accountability in the conduct of examinations and recruitment procedures.

The Delhi Police had stepped up security arrangements ahead of the protest amid concerns over large gatherings and the possibility of rival groups attempting to disrupt the demonstration.

(With agency inputs)