Delhi protesters hide in gurudwara, washrooms as police search and detain them

Protesters allegedly moved in and out of Delhi gurdwaras to evade detention during the CJP demonstration. DSGMC chief Harmeet Singh Kalka defended the police action, accusing AAP leaders of politicising the incident.

In Short

• Bangla Sahib staff tried stopping demonstrators carrying placards
• Police said some detainees returned to religious sites after marching out
• Delhi police enter gurdwara premises to detain protesters allegedly hiding inside

Protesters demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation used public washrooms and gurdwara premises to evade detention during the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) protest in Delhi, triggering a row over the use of places of worship for demonstrations. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Harmeet Singh Kalka accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of indulging in "dirty politics" and said slogans inside gurdwara premises would not be tolerated.

As police tightened security across the capital on Saturday, protesters were seen moving in and out of religious premises as officers attempted to detain them. According to police, several protesters entered Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj before moving towards Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place and Parliament. When police tried to apprehend them, some allegedly returned to the gurdwaras to evade detention.

The crackdown unfolded as thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across Delhi to prevent unauthorised gatherings ahead of the proposed demonstration against Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

DSGMC CHIEF ACCUSES AAP OF DIRTY POLITICS

Reacting to the controversy, Kalka said protesters had entered Gurdwara Bangla Sahib despite attempts by the management's staff to stop them. He alleged that some demonstrators sat inside the premises with placards they had brought for the protest and raised slogans.

"I am very surprised that at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, where everyone is allowed to come, protesters forcibly enter. When our staff tried to stop them, these people sat inside the gurdwara premises and raised slogans, holding placards they had brought for the protest," Kalka said.

He questioned the criticism of police action, arguing that officers had to intervene when protesters allegedly used the religious premises to demonstrate.

"When the police come to remove them, people make an issue of the fact that the police entered the gurdwara. If you let protesters enter the gurdwara and they raise slogans there, what option does the police have other than taking them out? Do you want protesters to raise slogans inside a gurdwara?" he asked.

Kalka also accused AAP leaders of politicising the incident, referring to videos he said showed two or three party MLAs protesting against the police action.

"I want to warn everyone who is indulging in this dirty politics, especially the two or three AAP MLAs whose videos I have seen, making a noise that the gurdwara management committee allowed the police inside. That is wrong," he said.

He added that the gurdwara would not allow protests inside its premises and warned against politicising the issue. "Whoever wants to protest should do so outside," Kalka said.

PROTESTERS HIDE IN CONNAUGHT PLACE WASHROOM

One of the unusual scenes during the crackdown unfolded at an NDMC public washroom in Connaught Place, where more than 20 young protesters had reportedly taken shelter overnight in an attempt to evade police checks before joining the march to Jantar Mantar.

The group had gathered through the night after restrictions were announced across the city on Friday. The washrooms, which close at 10 pm and reopen at 6 am, provided a temporary hiding place until police found the protesters during an inspection. Some had allegedly forced open the door to enter.

The protesters were rounded up and taken away in detention vehicles. Most had their faces covered. Even after being detained, some continued raising slogans and banging on the interiors of the police vehicles, with their voices audible through the netted windows.

The incident was among several episodes in central Delhi in which protesters attempted to evade detention, only to return to the streets when they saw an opportunity.

PROTESTERS MOVE IN AND OUT OF GURDWARA PREMISES

At Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, young protesters who had reportedly taken shelter overnight repeatedly came out to join demonstrations before retreating inside as police personnel approached. Slogans of "Inquilab Zindabad" and "Jai Bhim" rang out in the lane outside the gurdwara as a large group emerged onto the street. Police detained several protesters soon afterwards.

The gurdwara had provided shelter to student protesters in July, when they were demanding the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. This time, protesters reportedly took shelter there after restrictions were announced on Friday, preparing to join Saturday's demonstration.

According to people familiar with the exchanges, police had approached representatives of Bangla Sahib and asked them not to allow protesters into the premises. The representatives reportedly refused, arguing that the protesters were unarmed and were not raising slogans inside.

The presence of police personnel carrying lathis near the place of worship and the detention of young protesters drew criticism from some visitors, who questioned the pursuit of demonstrators around a religious site.

The attempts to evade detention were not limited to Bangla Sahib. Youth organisations and student groups marched from Baba Kharak Singh Road towards Ashoka Road, prompting police to move in. Some protesters ran into gurdwara premises as officers approached, seeking shelter before attempting to return to the demonstration.

At Kerala House, several CPI(M) leaders, including former chief ministers from different states, had been staying since Friday night. They were detained on Saturday when they stepped out to join the protest.

HEAVY SECURITY DEPLOYMENT ACROSS DELHI

The detentions took place amid an extensive security operation around the proposed demonstration called by the CJP and other Left organisations. The protesters were demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise.

More than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across the capital. Forty-five metro stations were closed, while traffic restrictions were imposed on 30 road stretches around Jantar Mantar.

Police pickets were set up across the city, with identity checks and vehicle inspections at border points, railway stations, bus terminals, hotels and other sensitive locations. Steel spikes were also placed on some roads to prevent vehicles from forcing their way through checkpoints without inspection.

Despite the barricades, checks and heavy deployment, protesters continued to assemble, seek shelter and return to demonstrations, as police attempted to detain those taking part in the unauthorised gatherings.

The CJP's protest was directed against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and changes relating to Form 6, which is used for voter registration.

- Ends