CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke’s grandmother, Savitribai Shankarrao Dipke, died of old age at her native village, Santuk, Pimpri in Hingoli. Dipke meanwhile was detained by Delhi police on Saturday from the aircraft as soon as he landed from Mumbai ahead of the planned protests against the Election Commission and CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Delhi Police said they alerted Dipke of his grandmother’s passing. She breathed her last at 11:30 am on Saturday after a month of illness and being hospitalised in Hingoli.
They said that he could decide whether to continue in detention or return home for her last rites.
"It is now up to him whether he wants to stay back and continue the protest under detention or fly back for the last rites," Delhi Police sources told ANI.
Dipke’s parents meanwhile said they are planning to travel to Hingoli for the rites.
His mother Anitha Dipke told reporters that she believed that the government was doing wrong. She asked why young people fighting for what they believe is right are being detained.
The development comes amid a large-scale police deployment by the Delhi police and paramilitary forces to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar.
The police personnel have set up barricades, vehicle checks and have restricted public transport.
There were also reports of journalists being detained despite carrying ID.
CJP co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were also detained after their flight arrived in Delhi.
Delhi police said they had denied permission for the protest, citing the delay in the notice.
Neha Bora, AISA president and another student leader leading the protests against the Election Commission, was also detained on October 4 during the student protests.
