Activists claim pre-emptive detention in Ahmedabad before Delhi protest

Several political and social activists in Ahmedabad claimed they were subjected to detention or house arrest on Friday in what they described as a pre-emptive measure ahead of a Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) protest scheduled for Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The demonstration was planned to demand the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Activists associated with the youth wings of the Indian National Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party were among those who reported restrictions on their movement.

Prominent activist Dev Desai stated that he had been confined to his home from Friday morning until Saturday, with police stationed outside his residence. He claimed there was no valid reason for the action and suggested it was intended to prevent his participation in the Delhi protest.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot acknowledged that police had taken action but characterised the measures as necessary. In a statement on Saturday, he asserted that no individuals were currently under detention. The police commissioner did not provide further details about the nature or justification for the Friday actions.

In a related development, the Western Railway cancelled the Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani Express service from Ahmedabad to New Delhi on Friday, a railway official confirmed. The cancellation occurred on the same day as the reported detentions, though no direct connection between the two events was established.