Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk issued a stark warning that he would consider an indefinite hunger strike if the detained protestors of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) were not released by Sunday. In a social‑media post he described the situation as an "undeclared emergency" and said he would be compelled to undertake a fast or a Padyatra March—a form of peaceful protest march—if the activists remained in custody. He added, "Yesterday when I posted a message appealing for unity & peace in today’s protest I had never imagined that the biggest democracy in the world would be under an undeclared EMERGENCY. I was happy there were so many leaders to lead the movement, but I now learn that they have all been arrested." He also warned, "I will be compelled to consider an Anshan Fast or Padyatra March if they are not released by tomorrow."
According to reports, Delhi Police detained around 4,000 anti‑CEC protestors in the capital. Among those taken into custody were the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, Abhijeet Dipke, along with other party members. The large number of arrests underscored the breadth of the crackdown on dissent linked to the protest against the Chief Election Commissioner.
To prevent the demonstrators from reaching Jantar Mantar, authorities deployed roughly 40,000 security personnel drawn from the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces across the national capital. Barricades were erected and 45 metro stations were shut down as part of the security operation, reflecting the scale of the official response to the planned protest.
The brief timeline notes that on 2026‑10‑10 the Cockroach Janta Party organised a protest against the Chief Election Commissioner.
Wangchuk’s statement also accused the Delhi Police of boarding the commercial flight that transported CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and the party’s spokespersons, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, to Delhi before detaining them. This claim points to an alleged pre‑emptive interception of the activists en route to the capital.
The brief timeline notes that on 2026‑10‑10 the Cockroach Janta Party organised a protest against the Chief Election Commissioner. This date marks the most recent demonstration referenced in the reporting, setting the backdrop for the subsequent detentions and the activist’s warning.
The coverage frames Sonam Wangchuk as supportive of the detained protestors, highlighting his call for their release and his willingness to undertake a hunger strike. In contrast, the Delhi Police are portrayed critically, accused of mass arrests, boarding a commercial flight, and imposing a heavy security presence that prevented peaceful assembly.
As the Sunday deadline approaches, the fate of the roughly 4,000 detained protestors remains uncertain. Wangchuk’s warning of an indefinite hunger strike—or a Padyatra March—looms as a potential escalation if the activists are not freed. The situation continues to draw attention to the tension between civil dissent and the authorities’ response in the national capital.
