On Saturday, Delhi police took the city by storm, shutting every entry gate in the metro system and canceling a large swath of inter‑state and local trains scheduled to arrive between 4 a.m. and 2 p.m. The move came as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) staged its Jantar Mantar 2.0 march, demanding a review of the CJP’s conduct.
The protest, which gathered at Janpath‑Kartavya Path crossing, was organized without official permission, sparking a swift response from the police. The CJP, headed by Gyanesh Kumar, has been the target of criticism from the organisers, who claim the commission is overstepping its mandate.
In a move to curb digital chatter, internet services were suspended for 24 hours within a 4 kilometre radius of the crossing. The shutdown affected hundreds of commuters and small businesses that rely on online transactions.
CJP spokesperson Tushar Singh said the protest would continue, but that the organisers were prepared to face legal consequences. Delhi Police Commissioner Arvind Kumar said the police were ensuring law and order and would take action against anyone who disrupts the city.
Police intend to conduct a raid on Sunday, aiming to detain the protest leaders and dismantle the encampment. The raid is expected to be coordinated with the Delhi Police’s special operations wing.
A local vendor, Rajesh Patel, who sells street food near Janpath, said the sudden shutdown had left his stall empty and his customers frustrated. He added that he hoped the situation would calm soon.