Abhijeet Dipke Detained, Connaught Place Fortified, Left Marches To Mandi House
Delhi Police have taken Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke into preventive custody from his residence at Rani Lakshmi Bai Marg ahead of a planned march in Connaught Place. Dipke had previously received and signed a police notice denying permission for any gathering or march in the area on grounds of maintaining law and order. Despite his supporters attempting to block the police vehicle, officers moved him away. Meanwhile, multi-tier security barricades involving the Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, and Rapid Action Force have heavily fortified Connaught Place's inner circle to prevent protesters from entering. Amid the extensive police deployment in the commercial hub, left-wing leaders and students altered their plans and moved towards Mandi House to unfurl the national flag, while traffic movement through central Delhi continued.
Connaught Place Shops Shut, Tricolour Protesters Gather Amid Police Curbs
A ground report from Delhi's Connaught Place details commercial shutdowns and citizen demonstrations following NDMC notices ordering the inner circle closed for two days. Reporter Preeti Chaudhry notes that while the administration shut markets, metro stations and arterial roads remained mostly open, except for a traffic-clearing diversion near KG Marg. Several demonstrators arrived carrying the national flag, asserting their democratic right to question authorities despite previous detentions and police warnings. A woman from Malviya Nagar stated citizens no longer fear administrative crackdowns and plan to stand peacefully, while a protester from Madhya Pradesh raised concerns regarding voting rights and policy accountability. The report also highlights student factions, including NSUI and left-affiliated groups, mobilizing near the inner circle, alongside regular visitors observing the heavy police deployment across the area.
Meerut Snake Bite Plot: Wife And Lover Awarded Death Sentence For Murder
A Meerut court has awarded the death penalty to Ravita Kashyap and her lover Amardeep for the April 2025 murder of her husband, Amit Kashyap. The victim was found dead on his bed alongside a live snake, leading the family to initially suspect a snakebite. Suspicion arose over neck marks, prompting a postmortem examination which revealed that Kashyap had died of strangulation and that the snake placed near him was non-venomous. Categorising the crime among the rarest of rare cases, the court handed down capital punishment, citing betrayal in the marital relationship.
Delhi Traders Decry Protests in Commercial Hubs, Cite Crores in Losses
Delhi traders have expressed concern over ongoing political protests in key commercial areas, including Connaught Place and Khan Market, warning of severe economic losses during the festive season. Business owners stated that footfall has declined drastically due to security restrictions and police action, leaving retail and wholesale operations severely disrupted while expenses like high rent and staff salaries persist. Traders associations have appealed to the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister to prohibit demonstrations in market zones and ensure adequate security. Meanwhile, political groups defend protests as a fundamental democratic right, arguing that official restrictions cause the disruptions.
