The Delhi government has ordered the closure of liquor vends across the national capital on October 9 and 10 as a preventive measure to maintain public order ahead of a planned Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest, an official said on Thursday.
The Delhi Excise Department issued a circular directing liquor outlets operating under specified licences, including L6, L6FG, L8, L10 and L14, to remain closed for two days. The decision was taken in view of the prevailing situation and inputs received from Delhi Police regarding potential law-and-order concerns.
The circular, issued by Deputy Commissioner (Excise) and Licensing Authority Tanvir Ahmad, prompted regular customers to queue up outside government liquor vends on Thursday to purchase supplies ahead of the temporary closure.
The move comes ahead of the CJP’s planned demonstration on October 10 at Jantar Mantar, where the organisation intends to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged discrepancies in the functioning of the poll body.
The movement, led by Abhijeet Dipke, has announced protests across the country over several days. The organisation had also held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in July over alleged irregularities in examinations.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has launched an investigation into the violence that erupted during the CJP protest in the capital on July 20, sources said on Thursday.
The probe will examine whether the violence was premeditated or whether criminal elements entered the protest sites during the march towards Parliament. Investigators will also look into assaults on police personnel, vandalism and damage to public property, including police vehicles.
The investigation follows directions from the Supreme Court, after which Delhi Police cancelled 17 FIRs linked to the July violence, according to the sources.
Around 30,000 protesters had reportedly gathered in and around Jantar Mantar on July 20 and attempted to march towards Parliament, demanding action against paper leaks and other examination-related irregularities.
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