Thousands of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar and Sansad Marg in Delhi despite stepped-up security, road closures, an internet suspension in the area, and the shutdown of 16 metro stations. The protest is important for UPSC because it sits at the intersection of public order, freedom of assembly, and administrative control over protest spaces in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
What happened
The protest site remained crowded through the day. Police increased deployment after minor clashes on the previous night. Volunteers formed a human chain between the protesters and the police. Officers said no major incident occurred during the day.
The protest group alleged that outsiders, including people linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party, were being sent to provoke stone-pelting and discredit the movement. Police maintained that security had been tightened because of the earlier clashes.
Access control and crowd movement
Authorities were stopping students in autorickshaws and limiting access under prohibitory orders. Many protesters still reached the site after walking long distances or taking detours. A protest leader said the turnout was only a fraction of the number of people who wanted to come because of the transport restrictions.
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