A large police operation in central Mumbai halted a planned demonstration near Shivaji Park on October 11, resulting in the detention of social activist Anjali Damania alongside dozens of other participants. The gathering had been organised in backing of the Cockroach Janata Party to voice objections regarding alleged discrepancies in voter lists. Authorities had heavily barricaded surrounding roads and deployed strong police contingents across the vicinity to prevent unauthorised assemblies.
Interception by Plainclothes Officers Near the Venue
Police personnel stopped Anjali Damania close to the park perimeter before putting her into a departmental vehicle. Explaining the sequence of events, Damania stated that plainclothes officers surrounded and took her into custody the moment she arrived to back the protest. She noted that all the officers involved were dressed in civilian clothing and that she was not informed where the escorting team was taking her.
Senior police officials confirmed that the majority of individuals detained from the perimeter were transported to the nearby Shivaji Park police station, while several others were distributed across adjacent police stations in the division. A senior officer explicitly cautioned that individuals congregating at Shivaji Park without requisite administrative permissions would face immediate legal consequences.
Opposition Reaction: Aaditya Thackeray Slams Government
The administrative clampdown sparked an immediate political confrontation in the city. Aaditya Thackeray, Worli legislator and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, censured the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming that the establishment had grown fearful of peaceful and fearless students protesting against the government inside Mumbai.
Reacting on the social media platform X, Aaditya Thackeray suggested that the police force appeared compelled to comply with instructions from authorities operating behind police barricades. He offered comprehensive support to those placed under detention, urging them to share their whereabouts and assuring that his party stood ready to provide full legal assistance throughout the process.
MNS Raises Questions Over Administrative Conduct
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Amit Thackeray similarly questioned the grounds on which demonstrators were being stopped and detained. Amit Thackeray stated that party workers would remain present on the ground from October 10 onwards to participate in the demonstrations.
Adding another dimension to the row, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande made serious accusations regarding official conduct. Deshpande alleged that an officer from the Shivaji Park police station along with Bharatiya Janata Party workers had been inciting office bearers of local Navratri mandals to confront the demonstrators. He further alleged that these mandal functionaries were being offered legal backing in exchange for taking aggressive action. Deshpande questioned whether the police were meant to prevent unrest or provoke it, asking why citizens are arrested merely for attempting to assemble when they are denied designated protest spaces.
Dispute Over Electoral Rolls and Ongoing Crackdown
The core dispute driving the agitation centres on alleged discrepancies within electoral registers, with the Cockroach Janata Party demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The administration maintained that public gatherings without prior clearances would not be permitted under any circumstances.
The crackdown on October 11 followed similar measures taken on October 10, when around 600 individuals were detained across diverse points in Mumbai for organising unpermitted demonstrations in support of the party. Demonstrations on that day had occurred at historic spots including August Kranti Maidan and Hutatma Chowk before police intervened. Security around Shivaji Park remains on high alert with barricades maintained to prevent further unapproved congregations.
