Delhi Enforces Security Lockdown and Transit Closures Ahead of Planned Protest

Ahead of the massive protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) alongside student organisations, social activists and farmer organisations on Saturday (October 10, 2026), authorities have clamped down with strict security measures and 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.

In response to the protests, several restrictions on transit have been implemented across the national capital. The Delhi Police have also proposed closing entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations and reducing train frequency, citing the likelihood of “unruly crowd movement towards sensitive locations”.

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.

Similarly, railway zones across the country, including Western Railway, Central Railway, Northern Railway and North-Western Railway, have cancelled or rescheduled scores of Delhi-bound train services citing severe road traffic congestion around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway staions.

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.

The cancellations are part of a decision by Northern Railway affecting 48 incoming trains bound for stations in the Delhi area.

A total of 38 trains originating from various stations across the country and scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations between 4 a.m. and 2 p.m. on October 10, 2026 have been cancelled, according to the Northern Railway.

Railways has set up dedicated helpdesks and officials clarified that passengers with valid, verified train tickets will be allowed access to stations.

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.

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

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.