All India Students' Association (AISA) National President Neha Bora was detained by the Delhi Police on Friday, 16 October, minutes after the detention of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder and Convener Abhijeet Dipke — both on their way to attend the 'Tiranga Assembly' at Central Park, Connaught Place, scheduled for 5 pm. The twin detentions came as authorities moved to prevent the gathering from taking place amid prohibitory orders at the venue.

Who Was Detained and Where

Bora was picked up from near Mandi House along with workers of AISA and allied left-wing organisations while en route to the CJP's 'Lehra Do Tiranga' demonstration. Dipke was detained separately, shortly before Bora's arrest. Both had been heading to the same rally point at Central Park in New Delhi's Connaught Place.

Why the Protest Was Called

Dipke had convened the 'Tiranga Assembly' to protest the arrest of CJP Co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, urging citizens to gather and wave the Tricolour in a show of solidarity. CJP spokesperson Mehar Pasricha told reporters: 'Our main goal today is to emphasise that it is our right to decide where we unfurl the Tricolour. No one should dictate where we can wave our national flag; we will do it ourselves.'

Pasricha further stated: 'There should be no restrictions or obstacles placed in our way. Two of our comrades were detained from Jantar Mantar and jailed simply for waving the flag. But we are not backing down. Many CJP volunteers, various student organisations, and members of the public have gathered here because they believe no one should tell us what we can or cannot do.'

Police Notices and Legal Orders

Earlier on Friday, Delhi Police served Dipke two separate notices directing him to abandon the planned gathering. The first was issued on behalf of the New Delhi district authorities under the Delhi Police Act, citing that Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) was in force at Central Park and that the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had not granted permission for the assembly.

The second notice, from the South West Delhi authorities, reminded Dipke — along with Ranka and Das — that they were previously 'bound down' following preventive detention at the airport and subsequent production before a court. That court directive requires them to refrain from causing any public disturbance for one year. Police warned that violation of the prohibitory orders would attract legal action.

Broader Context

The detentions mark a fresh flashpoint between the CJP and Delhi authorities. Notably, this is not the first time CJP members have been taken into custody over flag-waving demonstrations — Das and Ranka were previously detained at Jantar Mantar under similar circumstances. The episode raises questions about the limits of symbolic protest in designated public spaces and how courts weigh pre-emptive restrictions against the right to peaceful assembly. With the CJP's core leadership now detained, the next legal move — a bail hearing or challenge to the prohibitory orders — is expected to follow shortly.