Activists breach Delhi's Jantar Mantar, detained after flag-raising protest

A group of civil rights activists breached security barriers at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi on Thursday, entering the sealed protest venue with the national flag in what they described as a reclamation effort. The action was led by members of the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) organization, including Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who arrived with approximately a dozen supporters.

The activists managed to bypass the locked gates at the historic monument, which has served as a focal point for various social and political demonstrations. Video footage from the incident showed participants carrying the Indian tricolor as they entered the premises, which has been under restrictions.

Delhi police detained the activists following the breach. The protesters claimed their action represented a reclamation of the public space, asserting their right to access the site for demonstration purposes. The incident comes amid ongoing debates about protest rights and restrictions on public assembly spaces in the capital.

Jantar Mantar has long been designated as a protest site in Delhi, though access has been periodically restricted during security lockdowns or administrative directives. The Thursday incident underscores tensions between activist groups and authorities regarding freedom of expression and the use of public spaces for peaceful demonstration.