Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Delhi Detains Thousands as Opposition Protests Election Chief
A political group called the Cockroach Janta Party planned a protest in Delhi on Saturday.
It wanted the country’s election chief, Gyanesh Kumar, to resign over claims about voter lists.
Police and other security forces detained many people before and during the protest.
The article estimates that about 7,000 people were detained.
Some opposition leaders, activists, journalists and people who said they were bystanders were among them.
Police also closed 45 Metro stations for part of the day and blocked roads.
Small groups later protested in several parts of the city.
Opposition leaders said the police response was unfair and promised to keep protesting.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the city would not be held hostage.
Police reported that six officers were injured during detentions, and stones were thrown at a bus carrying detained protesters.
Police and Central forces detained an estimated 7,000 people in Delhi on Saturday during a citywide lockdown and crackdown on a planned Cockroach Janta Party protest.
The protest called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over alleged electoral-roll irregularities.
Police detained CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka aboard their arriving aircraft, while opposition leaders, activists, journalists and other people were also detained.
Authorities shut 45 Metro stations until evening, stopped train movement and barricaded key roads; smaller flash protests occurred at several locations.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the city would not be held hostage, while opposition leaders condemned the crackdown and said protests would continue.
- Who
- Cockroach Janta Party protesters, opposition leaders and others; Delhi Police and Central forces carried out detentions.
- What
- A crackdown and mass detentions during a protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
- When
- Saturday, October 10, 2026; the citywide lockdown began Friday night.
- Where
- Delhi, India, including Jantar Mantar and other locations across the city.
- Why
- The protest called for Kumar’s resignation over alleged electoral-roll irregularities.
Opposition and protesters
Delhi government and BJP
The police crackdown
Opposition and protesters
Opposition leaders described the detentions as repression and an attack on democratic protest and the right to vote.
Delhi government and BJP
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said Delhi would not be held hostage and said there would be a resolute response to what she called anarchy under the guise of democracy.
The protest’s demand
Opposition and protesters
The CJP and its supporters demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, citing alleged electoral-roll irregularities and calling for accountability.
Delhi government and BJP
BJP president Nitin Nabin alleged that the Opposition was trying to destabilise the country in collusion with foreign powers.
- Estimated detentions
- About 7,000 people across Delhi, according to the article.
- Protest demand
- The Cockroach Janta Party called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
- Transport restrictions
- 45 Metro stations were shut until evening; train movement was also stopped.
- Detained CJP leaders
- Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained aboard their aircraft after arriving from Mumbai.
- Later protest call
- CJP organiser Ajinkya Shinde called for another march to Jantar Mantar at 10 a.m. Sunday.
- Reported injuries
- Police said six personnel, including a woman member of the Pink Force, were injured while detaining protesters.
- Reported incident
- Stones were thrown at a bus carrying detained protesters near Jhandewalan.