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Police Board Flight to Detain Opposition Leaders as Delhi Braces for Protest

On a Saturday arrival from Mumbai, the head of the Co-operative Joint Party was taken from an aircraft at IGI Airport amid a massive security deployment, internet blackout and barricades in central Delhi, sparking condemnation and a heated atmosphere in the capital.

Police Board Flight to Detain Opposition Leaders as Delhi Braces for Protest
Author
Democracy News Live Desk
Date
10 Oct 2026
Read
3 min
A Planned Arrival Turns Into a Confrontation

Abhijit Dipke, also referred to as Abhijeet Dipke or Abhijeet Dipake, arrived in Delhi on a Saturday from Mumbai with the intention of joining a CJP demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Delhi police had been tracking his movement and, according to reports, intervened inside the aircraft immediately after it touched down at IGI Airport. The officers forcibly took Dipke, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka into custody while the plane was still on the ground.

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Party Leaders Cry Foul Over Pre‑Emptive Arrests

The Co-operative Joint Party swiftly condemned the action, alleging that the police had planned the arrests in advance to weaken the upcoming protest by removing its top leadership. A party spokesperson demanded the unconditional release of the three detained leaders. As news of the detentions spread, the atmosphere in Delhi began to heat up.

Dipke’s Own Words From the Aircraft

During the incident, Dipke was live on Facebook and reacted strongly to the in‑flight detention. He told viewers he had come to be arrested himself, saying, “I have come here myself to be arrested, arrest me.” Police officials, however, clarified that they were not arresting the trio but merely asking for cooperation.

His remarks echoed the government’s framing of the planned demonstration as a threat to public order.

A Second Wave of Detentions on October 10

Separate reports confirm that on Saturday, October 10, the Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained by Delhi police upon arrival in New Delhi. Authorities also arrested co‑conveners Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and legal aid head Ratna Singh, saying the moves were aimed at preventing a major protest over alleged voter list manipulation.

Massive Security Deployment and Communications Blackout

The crackdown saw approximately 43,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed across central Delhi. The area was placed under an internet blackout and barricaded, according to multiple sources. This heavy presence was intended to thwart any large‑scale gathering.

BJP Leadership Denounces the Protesters

BJP National President Nitin Nabin condemned the CJP and the INDIA opposition bloc, describing them as ‘anarchists’ attempting to create a dangerous and serious situation in the country. His remarks echoed the government’s framing of the planned demonstration as a threat to public order.

Social Media Criticism From the Detained Leader

While in custody, Dipke posted video footage of his detention, using the platform to criticize Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The footage circulated online, adding to the growing chorus of dissent.

Coverage
Further Detentions and Continued Tensions

In addition to the aircraft incident, Delhi police took CJP founder Abhijeet Dipake, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka into custody inside the plane at IGI Airport. Officials stressed that the action was a detention, not a formal arrest, and the trio were subsequently moved to a bus. Separately, YouTuber Dhruv Rath was detained in Gurugram Sector 56. The CJP criticized these actions, reiterating that it had planned a protest in Delhi, which prompted the police to arrange the extensive security measures.

Official Demands and Party Condemnation

Throughout the unfolding events, the CJP repeatedly demanded the unconditional release of the three leaders detained on the flight. The party also condemned the detention of Abhijeet Dipake, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, demanding their unconditional release.

Chronology of the Day’s Events

On 2026‑10‑10, Delhi police arrested CJP leaders inside a flight, the CJP had scheduled a protest at Jantar Mantar, police detained Abhijeet Dipake and two others on a flight, YouTuber Dhruv Rath was detained in Gurugram Sector 56, and CJP protests were scheduled in Delhi.

Stances and Voices in the Narrative

The brief assigns the following stances: Delhi Police are described as neutral on two occasions; the CJP is critical twice; Abhijeet Dipke appears neutral once and supportive once; Narendra Modi is critical once; Nitin Nabin is supportive once; the Cockroach Janta Party is neutral once; and Amit Shah is critical once.

A Key Quote From the Detained Leader

One of the direct statements captured during the incident reads: “I have come here myself to be arrested, arrest me.” – Abhijeet Dipke.

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