Three senior figures of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) have been arrested by Delhi Police in connection with a protest at Jantar Mantar, according to ABP Ananda. The party's co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka, spokesperson Saurav Das and leader Aijinkya Shinde were shown as preventive arrests, the report said.
The three were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court. The judge sent Ranka and Das to five days of judicial custody, while Shinde was released on conditional bail. Ranka and Das are being taken from the SEM court to Tihar Jail, where sources told ABP Ananda they have been placed in two separate wards — Das in Jail Number 2 and Ranka in Jail Number 4.
Why it matters
The arrests have drawn reactions from opposition leaders and put the handling of the protest back in the national spotlight. The case also tests how Delhi Police applies rules on demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, a site that has long served as the capital's designated venue for public dissent.
What police allege
Delhi Police have levelled several accusations against CJP members over the demonstration, ABP Ananda reported. According to the police account, no permission is currently in force for protests at Jantar Mantar. Despite this, 14 CJP members entered the site on 13 October, the report said.
Police claim that when officers tried to stop them, the protesters obstructed government work. The force further alleges that Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka used social media posts to encourage others to stage similar protests, according to ABP Ananda.
The arrests were reported by several outlets, including Prothom Alo, which said police showed the three leaders as arrested after they crossed a gate to enter Jantar Mantar. The Daily Star Bangla also reported that the three CJP figures had been taken into custody.
Political reaction
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the arrests, according to News18 Bengali. She said, "Your didi stands beside you," and addressed a message to the younger generation, the outlet reported.
The arrests also drew a challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Abhijit Dipak, who was quoted as saying that Modi is not fit for the office of prime minister. That reaction was carried alongside ABP Ananda's coverage of the case.
Separately, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan, an ally of the Modi government, said the brutal treatment of protesters was not acceptable, according to ABP Ananda. His comment added to the pressure on the government over the episode.
Student protest and police conduct claims
In a related development, student leaders of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) alleged that police beat them during a peaceful protest demanding the resignation of Jnanesh Kumar. They made the allegation before journalists alongside Rahul Gandhi, ABP Ananda reported.
One woman student alleged that a female constable grabbed her by the throat, pushed her from behind and jumped on her. She further claimed that Delhi Police covered her eyes and face while beating her, and that officers struck people repeatedly with batons, according to the report.
What to watch
Ranka and Das remain in Tihar Jail for the duration of their five-day custody, while Shinde has been released on conditional bail. The next steps in the case, and any further response from Delhi Police or the CJP, will indicate how the dispute over the Jantar Mantar protest develops.
