A massive security grid has enveloped central Delhi, transforming Connaught Place and surrounding transit corridors into an alert security zone. Ahead of a scheduled demonstration called by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) under the banner of the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Police ordered the immediate closure of Central Park for two consecutive days. Over 32,000 security personnel—comprising local police contingents, paramilitary forces, and anti-riot rapid action teams—have been mobilized and put on active alert across key sensitive nodes to maintain public order and prevent unpermitted mass assemblies.

The High-Stakes ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ Protest Call

The protest call was issued by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, urging supporters and citizens to gather at Connaught Place carrying the national flag to protest against the detention of party co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The duo was recently remanded to judicial custody following an unauthorized demonstration and flag-unfurling at Jantar Mantar. With tensions escalating between party organizers and administrative bodies over designated demonstration zones, organizers called for a peaceful gathering, prompting authorities to take swift pre-emptive steps to prevent disruptions in one of the capital’s busiest commercial districts.

Traffic Curbs, Route Diversions, and Market Concerns

To ensure public safety and manage congestion, Delhi Traffic Police issued extensive movement advisories across the inner, middle, and outer circles of Connaught Place. Multi-layered barricades, rapid-checking pickets, and heavy vehicle restrictions have been deployed across entry corridors leading from Mandi House, Janpath, Barakhamba Road, and Baba Kharak Singh Marg. Commercial traders and street vendors, including associations across Palika Bazar and nearby markets, voiced concern regarding footfall disruptions during the busy festive shopping window. In response, police authorities assured merchant bodies that commercial establishments would receive round-the-clock protection and warned that any attempt to violate prohibitory orders or disrupt normal trade would invite strict legal action.

Strict Regulation and High Court Directive

The tight security arrangements follow legal scrutiny after judicial petitions sought to regulate demonstrations inside high-density commercial centers. While declining to impose an outright blanket ban on peaceful civic expression, the High Court instructed the police administration to actively regulate crowds and ensure civic life is not paralyzed. Citing these directives, law enforcement agencies stated that only a tightly limited delegation would be permitted to display the national flag at a designated location, warning the wider public against unlawful assemblies in the vicinity of Central Park.