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Anti-SIR Protests: Jharkhand CJP Members Allege Surveillance, Forced to Abandon Train Journeys to Delhi

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) members from Jharkhand have alleged that men in plain clothes followed them on trains as they travelled to Delhi to protest against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Several members reportedly abandoned their journeys after being warned that they could face detention in Uttar Pradesh, while others managed to reach the national capital to join the demonstrations.

Khusboo Choudhary, Jharkhand coordinator of CJP, told PTI that she boarded a train from Ranchi to Delhi on the night of October 8. She alleged that around eight people followed her and recorded videos shortly after she boarded the train.

During ticket verification, a travelling ticket examiner (TTE) allegedly warned Choudhary that men in plain clothes were following her and that she could be detained once the train entered Uttar Pradesh.

Choudhary said she got off at Bokaro station at around 3.30 am and took another train back to Ranchi. She added that the experience had strengthened her determination to participate in the protests. The party would also organise demonstrations in Jharkhand against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, she said.

Moin Khan, a core member of the Jharkhand CJP committee, alleged that several other members had also cut short their journeys after noticing that they were being followed. According to Khan, the TTE told them that the men had obtained details of their seating arrangements and were repeatedly asking about them. Several members reportedly got off at Koderma railway station and returned to Ranchi.

However, at least 15 CJP members from different districts of Jharkhand reached Delhi and joined protests at various locations, Khan said. The party plans to organise further demonstrations in Jharkhand in the coming days.

Officials at Ranchi railway station said they had no information about the alleged incidents. An official from the office of the senior divisional commercial manager told PTI that the railway authorities were unaware of the claims.

CJP Leaders Released, Seek Permission for Fresh Protest

The allegations come after Delhi Police detained CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on Saturday after they arrived in the capital to protest against the Chief Election Commissioner.

A Delhi executive magistrate court ordered their release on Sunday, subject to a condition that they refrain from any breach of peace for one year. Delhi Police said a surety bond of ₹50,000 had been furnished to ensure peace and good behaviour during the period.

CJP leaders said they would visit Parliament Street Police Station at 10 am on Monday to seek permission for a peaceful demonstration at Jantar Mantar.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police issued a traffic advisory ahead of the INDIA bloc’s planned protest on October 12, warning of possible disruptions and diversions from 6 am, depending on the prevailing law-and-order situation.

The surveillance allegations made by CJP members have not been independently verified. Railway officials said they had no information about the reported incidents.

Nibeditaa Speaks

Nibedita Sen is a seasoned Defence correspondent and aerospace journalist with over a decade of experience covering national security, aviation ecosystems, and strategic technologies. Trained under a Government of India program in 2018, she brings a field-informed and policy-driven perspective to her reporting on India’s rapidly evolving Defence and aerospace landscape. 

She is working with Edinbox since its inception. When she is not working, you can find her exploring new places and food. She is also a National level cadet from Scouts and Guides since the age of 7. Nibedita's international tenure includes environmental reporting as a science communicator for the Jerusalem Post. Her work transcends borders, illuminating complex scientific and environmental issues for global audiences.

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