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Detentions Reported Ahead of Delhi Protest Against Election Chief
A group called the Cockroach Janta Party says many people have been detained before a planned protest in Delhi.
The protest is about how India’s voter lists are being checked and changed.
Organisers want the country’s chief election official, Gyanesh Kumar, to resign and want the voter-list exercise stopped.
Student groups and other activists have also said police stopped or questioned people trying to travel to Delhi.
Police said the protest did not have permission and warned against gatherings.
News reports said many security personnel would be deployed in the city.
Some trains were cancelled because officials expected traffic near major stations.
The organisers said they still planned to go ahead with the march.
The Cockroach Janta Party alleged that at least 10,000 people, including students, farmers and Dalit organisation members, were detained ahead of an October 10 protest in Delhi.
Activists and student groups reported detentions and restrictions on people travelling to the capital; police actions described in the article include detaining students at Itarsi and issuing warnings around Parliament.
The protest’s organisers are demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and the cancellation of the special intensive revision of voter rolls.
Delhi Police said permission for the Jantar Mantar demonstration had been denied; reports cited plans to deploy about 23,000 security personnel across Delhi.
The Indian Railways cancelled certain trains arriving at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, citing anticipated traffic congestion.
- Who
- The Cockroach Janta Party, Left groups, student organisations and civil society activists called the protest; the party alleged that at least 10,000 people had been detained.
- What
- A planned demonstration demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and the cancellation of the special intensive revision of voter rolls.
- Where
- Jantar Mantar, Delhi, with alleged detentions and restrictions reported in several Indian states.
- When
- Saturday, October 10; the article reports detentions and restrictions in the days beforehand.
- Why
- Organisers cite alleged irregularities in the voter-roll revision, including concerns raised in a reported investigation into Election Commission decisions.
Protest organisers and critics
Police and Election Commission
Detentions and restrictions
Protest organisers and critics
The Cockroach Janta Party and student and civil society groups alleged widespread detentions, limits on travel and pressure to discourage participation.
Police and Election Commission
Delhi Police said it had denied permission for the demonstration and announced that legal action could follow violations of restrictions; the article does not include a police response to the specific detention allegations.
Voter-roll revision
Protest organisers and critics
Protesters say alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision justify demanding Kumar’s resignation and ending the exercise.
Police and Election Commission
The Election Commission said operational queries or inputs from commission members during draft stages are part of standard administrative practice intended to safeguard voter rights.
Key facts
- Protest date
- October 10
- Planned venue
- Jantar Mantar, Delhi
- Detentions claimed
- At least 10,000, according to the Cockroach Janta Party
- Main demands
- Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and scrapping the special intensive revision of voter rolls
- Police position
- Delhi Police said permission for the demonstration had been denied
- Security deployment reported
- About 23,000 personnel expected across Delhi, according to ANI citing unidentified officials
- Train disruption
- Mail and express trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday were cancelled, according to The Times of India
Quotes
Abhijeet Dipke
Founder of the Cockroach Janta Party
“If you want to jail us or even shoot us, we are prepared. We won’t succumb to your psychotic behaviour.”
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Sources
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