After a failed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ campaign, organised jointly by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other Opposition groups, Delhi Police detained the President of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), Neha Bora, and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday. As of Saturday, Bora has been released from detention, while Dipke continues to remain in preventive detention, and is set to be produced before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court in Delhi.
The developments surfaced after hours of uncertainty and allegations by students and political groups that the duo was denied access to lawyers post-detention ahead of the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ agitation in the national capital.
Neha Bora
As per a statement issued by Delhi Police on Saturday, Bora had walked free under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act, while Dipke was being subjected to legal proceedings under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Details of the detention
Police sources privy to the development said Dipke was detained at Jhandewalan while marching towards Connaught Place, whereas Bora was picked up from Mandi House.
Police alleged that Dipke had been served two notices directing him not to be present at the Central Park in Connaught Place, but failed to comply. His detention came amid concerns over a possible breach of peace.
Abhijeet Dipke served notice prior to the Lehra Do Tiranga campaign
Officials are also likely to inform the magistrate that Dipke allegedly flouted the conditions of a peace bond submitted following an earlier preventive arrest. As per reports, he had furnished a bond of Rs 50,000 and had undertaken not to disrupt public peace for a year.
150 detained ahead of protests
The detentions unfolded ahead of planned Tiranga and anti-Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) protests in New Delhi. According to Delhi Police, as many as 150 people had been detained as part of measures to ensure the upkeep of law and order and prevent traffic disruptions.
Security had been beefed up around Central Park in CP, which was cordoned off by the police. Rapid Action Force personnel had also been pressed into service inside the park, while additional security personnel were stationed in the adjoining areas.
AISA, CJP allege denial of legal access by cops
Before the police issued their statement, both organisations voiced concerns over the whereabouts of the activists. CJP accused the Delhi police of whisking away Dipke to an undisclosed location and that the party had lost track of him. It further claimed that he was not being allowed to speak to lawyers.
CJP leader Rohan Deshpande wrote a letter to the station house officer (SHO) of the Mandir Marg Police Station, seeking details of Dipke’s detention, saying the outfit had received no information about where he had been taken.
Meanwhile, AISA alleged that Bora had been moved between different locations in Delhi over five hours and was later traced to the RK Puram Police station. The association also claimed that lawyers who reached the police station at midnight were denied access to her. It added to the allegations, claiming that police had refused to provide her with medication despite being aware of the fact that she had been unwell for several days.
AISA then questioned the grounds for Bora’s detention and demanded clarity on when she would be released.