Ahead of CJP protest, Delhi govt shuts down liquor vends on Oct 9, 10
New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) In a preventive measure for maintaining public order ahead of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest, the Delhi government has ordered all city liquor vends to remain closed for two days, starting from Friday, an official said.
The Delhi Excise Department, in a circular issued on Thursday, said, “The closure has been ordered as a preventive measure to maintain public order, based on the prevailing situation and inputs received from Delhi Police. The order applies to liquor vends operating under specified licences, including L6, L6FG, L8, L10 and L14.”
The news about the circular, issued by Deputy Commissioner (Excise)/Licensing Authority Tanvir Ahmad, spread fast in the national capital on Thursday with regular customers lining up outside government vends to stock up for the two-day closure.
The state government’s decision to shut liquor vends followed inputs from Delhi Police about possible disturbance of law and order by drunk protesters during the demonstration planned by CJP to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged discrepancies in the poll body.
The Abhijeet Dipke-led CJP movement has planned protests across the nation over a number of days.
In Delhi, the CJP aims to hold a protest on October 10 at Jantar Mantar, where it held a similar protest in July against wrongdoings in exams.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police Crime Branch has started investigating the violence that broke out during the CJP protest in July and registered a case under relevant sections of the law, sources said on Thursday.
The Crime Branch sources said the probe will focus on the role of those responsible for the violence that broke out in New Delhi on July 20.
The Crime Branch will specifically investigate whether the violence was “premeditated” or whether “criminal elements” entered the protest sites when the CJP called for a march to Parliament.
On the directions of the Supreme Court, Delhi Police has already cancelled 17 FIRs related to the violence.
The Crime Branch will now specifically probe the violence, which involved assaults on police personnel, vandalism and destruction of public property, including police vehicles.
On July 20, a large number of protesters gathered in and around Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
Around 30,000 people took to the streets and attempted to march toward Parliament demanding action against paper leaks and other examination-related irregularities.
–IANS
rch/khz
