NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday hit out at the Delhi Police over its alleged crackdown on protesting students and activists, saying dissent was a democratic right and “cannot be crushed through intimidation or force”.In a post on X, Dipke said Delhi would witness a “massive mobilisation of young Indians” on October 10 and warned that attempts to suppress peaceful protesters would bring more people onto the streets and strengthen the march to Jantar Mantar.“Delhi Police must stop its crackdown on protesting students and activists,” Dipke said.He added, “Every attempt to suppress peaceful protesters will only bring more people to the streets and strengthen the march to Jantar Mantar.”In another post, the CJP criticised what it described as police “brutality” against protesters at Jantar Mantar.“The Delhi Police brutality against peaceful protesters at Jantar Mantar is shameful,” the party said, adding that “suppressing dissent with state power is not how a democracy should function”.The CJP also questioned the police’s priorities, saying, “If they showed the same zeal in doing their actual job, perhaps Delhi would be safer today.”Meanwhile, Mumbai Police on Saturday registered an FIR against the organisers and 400-500 unidentified people in connection with the CJP’s October 2 protest at Shivaji Park.The case was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Police Act for unlawful assembly, wilful disobedience of a lawful order issued by a public servant and other offences, a Shivaji Park police station official told PTI.The case was lodged on the complaint of a resident of the Shivaji Park area, the official said.“No one has been arrested in the case. Further probe is underway,” the official added.The CJP, led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, had organised the protest at Shivaji Park seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
