Story perspectives

Delhi police detain Jantar Mantar protesters after de-notification

By Drooid · Oct 16, 2026, 10:52 AM UTC · How we work

Center

Detention of Congress Protesters

Delhi police de-notified Jantar Mantar as a protest site on October 12, prompting student and youth groups to march toward the location.
The centre says the shift follows a Home Ministry committee recommendation made before the court order, and Supreme Court issued a notice to review it.
Commissioner Anurag Kumar named Ramlila, Burari and CBD Grounds as alternative venues.
Senior officer reported detaining 50 protesters, including Indian Youth Congress members.

Right

Gate Scaling Video

On Tuesday, Cockroach Janta Party leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das entered de-notified Jantar Mantar and were detained.
They framed the raid as a direct challenge to the Centre’s order, insisting de-notification would not stop resistance.
Founder Abhijeet Dipke posted a video of volunteers scaling the gate as police filed an FIR for breaching a peace bond.
The leaders were released the next day on a one-year no-breach condition.

Blindspot

Center sources reported that at least 50 protesters, including members of the Indian Youth Congress, were detained during the march toward Jantar Mantar.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

On 25 June 1975 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi invoked Article 352, imposing a 21-month Emergency that suspended civil liberties and led authorities to detain over 100,000 opponents, including activist Jayaprakash Narayan, while protests gathered at Jantar Mantar. The crackdown set a precedent for later restrictions, and today’s de-notification of the site echoes that historic suppression of public dissent.

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Detention of Congress Protesters

Delhi police de-notified Jantar Mantar as a protest site on October 12, prompting student and youth groups to march toward the location.
The centre says the shift follows a Home Ministry committee recommendation made before the court order, and Supreme Court issued a notice to review it.
Commissioner Anurag Kumar named Ramlila, Burari and CBD Grounds as alternative venues.
Senior officer reported detaining 50 protesters, including Indian Youth Congress members.

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