Police detain protesters and opposition leaders at New Delhi election protest

Police detained dozens of protesters and opposition leaders in New Delhi on Saturday.

The protest, organised by the youth movement Cockroach, called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.

Critics say changes to voter lists could benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The dispute intensified after a newspaper report said the revisions removed about 130 million voters and some of Kumar’s deputies questioned the changes.

The protest went ahead despite police refusing permission and warning that participants could face legal consequences.

Thousands of security personnel were deployed, and transport and telecommunications services were restricted.

The protest organisers said they were exercising a basic right, but no further steps were described.