CJP protesters near Parliament, face barricades, lathicharge, tear gas

Security forces fired tear gas and resorted to lathi charges after protesters breached barricades and marched towards Parliament. Chaos gripped central Delhi, triggering traffic disruptions, metro restrictions and a police crackdown to disperse demonstrators.

In Short

• Protesters clash with police in central Delhi amid Sansad Chalo march
• Security forces used tear gas, lathi charges and anti-riot vehicles
• Barricades near Parliament breached, metro services disrupted

Chaotic scenes erupted across central Delhi on Monday as security forces fired tear gas shells, resorted to lathi charges and deployed anti-riot vehicles after protesters participating in the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) 'Chalo Sansad' march attempted to breach security barricades in the high-security zone surrounding Parliament.

The protest, which coincided with the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, witnessed repeated clashes between demonstrators and police as authorities enforced one of the largest security operations in the national capital in recent months.

The initial scuffle broke out near Jantar Mantar after protesters breached police barricades to begin their march towards Parliament. As the protest intensified, agitators attempted to push through multiple barricades erected in the high-security area near Parliament. A scuffle ensued, during which several protesters and police personnel sustained minor injuries.

Amid the police crackdown, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained from Jantar Mantar, the party leadership claimed.

Protesters and police clashed at multiple locations, including Jantar Mantar, Constitution Club, Rail Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, Janpath, Connaught Place and near the Reserve Bank of India, as thousands of demonstrators converged on central Delhi despite extensive security arrangements.

Near Shastri Bhawan, security forces fired tear gas shells after several protesters attempted to break through barricades to reach Jantar Mantar and join the Parliament march.

With the Monsoon Session underway inside Parliament, security was further intensified around the Parliament complex. Rail Bhawan, located adjacent to Parliament, witnessed a massive deployment of Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel as protesters attempted to move towards the high-security zone. Security forces used tear gas shells to disperse demonstrators and prevent them from advancing towards Parliament, while multiple layers of barricades remained in place to secure the route.

Visuals from Rail Bhawan showed tense scenes as large crowds gathered while police repeatedly made announcements asking protesters to disperse. As sections of the crowd attempted to move past barricades, security personnel intensified crowd-control measures, using tear gas and later resorting to lathi charges to push back demonstrators.

Clashes also broke out near the Constitution Club, where security personnel baton-charged protesters and fired tear gas shells to disperse the gathering after demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament.

Another group of CJP protesters reached the area near the Reserve Bank of India, close to Parliament, where they raised slogans before security personnel used mild force to disperse them and prevent them from entering the restricted zone.

As the protest spread beyond Jantar Mantar, large groups of demonstrators also reached Connaught Place, prompting authorities to tighten security in the commercial hub. Traffic on the Outer Circle was brought to a halt after police stopped buses and other vehicles to prevent protesters from moving further. The crowd, which had initially gathered around Jantar Mantar, spilled over into Connaught Place, with a steady stream of protesters continuing to arrive in the area.

Authorities deployed Vajra anti-riot vehicles, water cannons and rapid response teams at key junctions around Rail Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, Constitution Club, Janpath, Connaught Place and other sensitive locations to contain the march and prevent protesters from advancing towards Parliament.

Several commuters were stranded inside nearby Delhi Metro stations after authorities restricted access and temporarily shut station gates as a precautionary measure. Security was also tightened at Metro stations across the New Delhi district, while police maintained a strict vigil. Authorities had earlier indicated that stations could be temporarily closed depending on the security situation.

The Parliament complex and the Central Vista corridor were effectively turned into a no-movement zone as security agencies sealed off the area. Public movement was halted, traffic around Parliament was completely suspended, and access to the entire stretch was restricted.

Protesters also alleged that internet and mobile connectivity in and around the protest site had been disrupted due to the use of signal jammers, although there was no immediate official confirmation of the claim.

The CJP called the 'Chalo Sansad' march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament to demand education reforms and seek the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. The march coincided with the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Ahead of the mobilisation, the Delhi Police had drawn up an extensive security plan, deploying more than 5,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel across the New Delhi district. More than 25 battalions of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including women personnel, were stationed at strategic locations to reinforce the security grid.

According to sources, the New Delhi district was divided into 15 security sectors, each supervised by senior officers. Intelligence agencies and the Delhi Police Special Branch shared hourly updates on the number of protesters arriving at, leaving and staying around Jantar Mantar to help authorities assess crowd strength and make real-time deployment decisions.

Meanwhile, the CJP leadership claimed that the Centre had agreed to hold talks with the protesters. The party said it had sought a meeting with the government to discuss its demands. However, there was no official confirmation from the Centre regarding any such engagement.

- Ends