Crowd gathers at Jantar Mantar for protest against caste-based reservation

A sizeable crowd assembled at Jantar Mantar on Friday for a protest seeking changes to the caste-based reservation system, despite Delhi Police saying it had not granted permission for the demonstration.

Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed at the site, with barricades put up as people arrived in groups through the day. The call had asked supporters to gather at 2pm.

Delhi Police said videos circulating online that claimed permission had been granted were false and misleading. It said Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita was in force across New Delhi district, prohibiting protest marches, processions, demonstrations and assemblies of five or more people.

The force asked people not to share unverified claims about permission for the gathering and said legal action could follow against those creating or circulating false information. Jantar Mantar is Delhi’s designated protest stretch, though access and permissions remain regulated; read more about how the site became a protest venue.