Heavy police deployment, barricades restrict entry to Jantar Mantar; several protesters detained

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Police detaining a protester near Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi on Friday, October 2, 2026. | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

New Delhi turned into a fortress on Gandhi Jayanti due to heavy police deployment and barricading at Jantar Mantar, restricting the entry of people attempting to protest against the conduct of the Election Commission (EC).

Prohibitory orders were enforced under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the Parliament Street subdivision, where the protest site is located. The order restricts public meetings, assembly of five or more persons, carrying firearms, banners, placards, lathis, spears, swords, sticks, or brickbats, shouting slogans, making speeches, and holding processions, demonstrations, or dharnas. Section 163 was imposed on the entire subdivision except for the actual protest site, where demonstrations were allowed until 5 p.m. with permission.

However, entry to the protest site was blocked, preventing protesters from reaching the area.

Hundreds of Delhi Police, CAPF, and RAF personnel blocked the two main entry points to Jantar Mantar: one from Sansad Marg and the other from the Kerala House side. Buses and police PCR vans added to the multi-layered security measures set up to obstruct the protesters.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation announced that entry and exit gates were closed at 12 stations, including those in the immediate vicinity of the protest site such as Patel Chowk, Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, and Central Secretariat. Interchange facilities remained available at all such stations except New Delhi.

The police detained more than 500 protesters, including former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi.

Disruption in internet services created difficulties for nearby shopkeepers and gig workers trying to process UPI payments. Public vehicles were barred from entering Ashoka Road, Jantar Mantar Road, and Sansad Marg. Commuters were asked to reroute, and those waiting at bus stops were instructed to leave.

Public vehicles were barred from entering Ashoka Road, Jantar Mantar Road, and Sansad Marg. Commuters were asked to reroute, and those waiting at bus stops were instructed to leave. | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

As student groups and Opposition party workers arrived, the police forcibly detained them and loaded them onto buses parked near the entry points. The police personnel outnumbered the protesters. According to officials, around 4,000 personnel were deployed at Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas. Drones were used to monitor the situation on the ground.

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) called for the protest march to begin from Mandi House, while the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) began its march from Raisina Road.

All India Students’ Association (AISA) members surveyed the area in the morning to identify open routes. N. Sai Balaji, CPI(ML) activist and former AISA national president, said, “We conducted recces and shortlisted a few routes, but they kept getting closed off during the day. We eventually decided to march from the Vice President’s enclave.” He added that the marching crowd had reached at least 350 people before detentions began.

Political activist and psephologist Yogendra Yadav also participated in the protest march. “It is courageous of young people to come out despite knowing they will get detained, because they all want Gyanesh Kumar to be removed,” he said.

AISA national president Neha Bora, along with Mr. Yadav and scores of protesters, attempted to reach the site from Patel Chowk but was intercepted by police at Samrat Ashok Chowk.

At around 10.30 a.m., Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj and MP Sanjay Singh reached Janpath Lane, where police forcibly detained them.

The AAP said the crackdown raises fundamental questions over the future of democratic dissent.

Senior AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia posted on X, “The protest is against Gyanesh Kumar, and Amit Shah is engaged in crushing this protest. Today, the Delhi Police is determined to suppress every voice demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.”

DYFI workers resisted detention by lying on the road, but were ultimately taken into custody.

Ms. Bora and several others initially managed to jump out of the buses but were detained multiple times throughout the day. Several female personnel without nameplates forcibly restrained her and other protesters.

The Indian Youth Congress arrived in the evening with a group of around 500 workers. They were also stopped, and around 50 of them were detained.

At least 20 to 25 buses and vans carried hundreds of detained protesters away from the area, as all access roads to Jantar Mantar remained heavily barricaded throughout Gandhi Jayanti.

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