The Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) on Sunday, 11 October 2026 alleged that security personnel from border areas and Maoist-affected regions had been airlifted to New Delhi to enforce restrictions on protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The claims came hours after senior CJP leaders were released by a Delhi court following preventive arrests.

Key Allegations at the Press Conference

CJP co-convener Saurav Das, addressing reporters after his release, alleged that between 30,000 and 40,000 security personnel had been deployed across the capital. “The entire city of Delhi has been turned into a cantonment for the last few days,” he said. According to Das, troops from Naxal-affected areas, Bengal, and Kashmir, including Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, were among those reportedly airlifted to the city.

Das further alleged that Delhi Police had not issued formal detention notices to those held, and that phones were seized. “Our phones were seized and might have been hacked to plant evidence,” he claimed, without providing supporting documentation.

Impact on Ordinary Citizens

The CJP leadership argued that the scale of the security deployment was not merely targeting protesters but was disrupting daily life across Delhi. Das cited the closure of metro stations, suspension of train services from other states, and the shutting of shops as measures affecting citizens with no connection to the protest movement. “What purpose does shutting shops serve?” he asked, alleging the government was attempting to create a negative public perception of the agitation.

Notably, Sunday is typically a high-footfall day for retail, making the shop closures particularly disruptive to traders and residents, Das added.

Supreme Court Order and Its Implementation

CJP’s legal affairs head Ratna Singh welcomed a Supreme Court directive that ordered authorities to ensure normal functioning of metro and railway services, uninterrupted internet connectivity, and free movement of people in the capital. However, she stopped short of expressing confidence that the orders would be carried out. “Whatever the court has said today is a positive step, but we will have to see whether the orders are implemented,” she said.

Singh alleged that detainees were being physically assaulted and had their phones confiscated, and said Delhi Police appeared unwilling to change course regardless of judicial directions.

The Central Demand: CEC’s Resignation

At the heart of the protest is the CJP’s demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over what the organisation describes as irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls. Das escalated the rhetoric on Sunday, asking: “Why are you saving Gyanesh Kumar? Does he know something about the 2024 elections, or how polls have been conducted in BJP-ruled states?”

Das asserted that the CJP would not withdraw from the agitation, and appealed to citizens across the country to join the protests. The government has not publicly responded to the specific allegations made at the press conference.

What to Watch Next

With the Supreme Court now in the picture and the CJP vowing to continue its campaign, attention will turn to whether the court’s directives on mobility and connectivity are enforced by Delhi Police. The broader political fallout — particularly over the SIR process and the role of the Election Commission — is likely to intensify in the days ahead.