As the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), along with student organisations, social activists and farmer groups, gears up for a massive protest on Saturday (October 10, 2026), authorities have tightened security and imposed traffic restrictions across New Delhi.
The CJP, led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with other student bodies such as All India Students Association (AISA) and AISF, announced a nationwide march to Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the complete rollback of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Protestors allege that the SIR exercise is being misused to tamper with voter lists by deleting genuine voters, misclassifying living citizens as deceased despite producing Aadhaar, PAN and other valid documents to establish that they were alive and altering key registration documents like Form 6 without consent.
45 metro stations closed
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced the closure of 45 metro stations on Saturday in view of the prevailing law and order situation. The move follows DMRC’s earlier order of closure of 57 metro stations, which got revoked after Supreme Court directed Central Government to lift stringent restrictions.
On Friday night, the DMRC posted in X, “Due to security reasons, the entry and exit at the following metro stations will remain closed from 09:00 PM on 9th October, 2026 till 06:00 PM on 10th October, 2026. Further the situation will be reviewed by the security agencies and necessary updates will be shared accordingly. However, interchange facility will remain available at all the concerned metro stations except New Delhi metro station”.
Major transit hubs such as Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Kashmere Gate, Hauz Khas, and Supreme Court are among the closed locations.
Trains cancelled and diverted
Similarly, railway zones across the country, including Western Railway, Central Railway, Northern Railway and North-Western Railway, have cancelled or rescheduled over 200 trains coming into or originating from Delhi citing severe road traffic congestion around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations.
Western Railway rescheduled the Mumbai Central–New Delhi Rajdhani Express (12951) and August Kranti Rajdhani Express (12953) by five hours, while cancelling services like the Bandra Terminus–Hazrat Nizamuddin Express (12247), Dr. Ambedkar Nagar–New Delhi Express (20155), Indore–Hazrat Nizamuddin Express (09309), Indore–New Delhi Express (12415), and Sabarmati–New Delhi Express (12957). Central Railway cancelled the CSMT–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express (22221) and CSMT–New Delhi Rajdhani Express (22209. The North Western Railway on Friday (October 9) cancelled 13 train services scheduled to depart for the national capital on October 9 and 10, citing “operational reasons”. Meanwhile, the Jammu railway division on Friday announced the cancellation of four key trains heading to the national capital, including the superfast Rajdhani Express.
This includes 75 Mail/Express including Rajdhani, Tejas, Shatabdi, and 170 passenger trains.
Railways has set up dedicated helpdesks and officials clarified that passengers with valid, verified train tickets will be allowed access to stations.
23,000 security personnel deployed
The Ministry of Home Affairs has provided the Delhi Police with additional companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to strengthen security arrangements in view of the proposed protest and other potential gatherings in the national capital.
According to sources, around 23,000 security personnel are expected to be deployed across Delhi between October 8, 2026 and October 12, 2026.
The New Delhi area is expected to witness extensive security deployment on October 10, 2026, with multi-layered barricading, CCTV surveillance and Facial Recognition System (FRS)-enabled cameras being used to monitor movement.
Strict vigil will be maintained at Delhi’s borders, railway stations and bus terminals. Security agencies are also keeping a special watch to prevent criminal elements from entering protest gatherings by posing as protesters, sources said.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) is in force, and gatherings in violation of the restrictions will not be permitted.
Depending on the situation, police may also regulate access to metro stations and markets in the New Delhi area.
Security agencies are maintaining close coordination and monitoring developments ahead of October 10 to prevent any law-and-order situation in the national capital, sources said.
Other closures: schools, colleges, liquor shops shut
The Delhi government ordered all retail liquor vendors to remain closed on October 9, 2026 and October 10, 2026, citing the prevailing situation and the need to maintain public order. Multiple educational institutions including Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, shifted classes online and postponed scheduled events
Who are joining the CJP protest
Despite the Delhi Police denying permission for the protests, citing past rule violations and short application notice, several civil groups and prominent leaders have shown their interest in participating in the protests.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has announced that his family and he will join the protest at Jantar Mantar. AISA national president and student activist Neha Bora urged participants across the country to hold local sit-ins wherever they are. The demonstration will continue along with the Left student groups, farmers associations and civil rights groups.
CJP leaders including Mr. Dipke, Sayrav Das and Ashutosh Ranka will be leading the agitation.
(With PTI inputs)
