Protesters affiliated with the Cockroach Janta Party damaged exit gates at the Rajiv Chowk metro station in New Delhi on Wednesday [1].

The incident disrupted one of the city's busiest transit hubs, forcing authorities to implement emergency closures to maintain public safety and security.

Demonstrators forced open and damaged the exit gates at Rajiv Chowk [1]. The Cockroach Janta Party organized the protest to voice opposition against government policies [2].

In response to the unrest, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation initiated security-driven closures across the network. Reports on the total number of affected stations vary, with some sources saying 16 stations were temporarily closed [1], while others report the number reached 17 [2].

The closures extended beyond Rajiv Chowk and Janpath to include other key locations such as ITO [2]. The temporary shutdowns aimed to prevent further damage to public property and manage the flow of protesters through the city's underground infrastructure.

Transit officials have not provided a specific timeline for the full restoration of all services, though the closures were described as temporary [1]. Security personnel remained on high alert at the remaining open stations to prevent similar incidents of property damage.

“Protesters damaged public property by forcing open and damaging the exit gates at Rajiv Chowk”

The shutdown of a significant portion of the Delhi Metro network highlights the vulnerability of urban transit infrastructure during political unrest. By targeting Rajiv Chowk, a central interchange, the Cockroach Janta Party effectively paralyzed a major artery of New Delhi's transport system, forcing the government to prioritize security over commuter mobility.