Politics · India · 2 days ago
More than 1,000 detained in Delhi ahead of electoral-roll protest
Police in New Delhi detained more than 1,000 people ahead of a protest planned for Saturday by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party and other groups.
The group wanted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over changes to India's electoral rolls.
The Election Commission says the nationwide update is a routine effort to remove dead, duplicate or ineligible voters.
The party and opposition groups accuse Kumar of favouring Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, allegations that the commission and the BJP deny.
The planned gathering at Jantar Mantar was blocked, and authorities also restricted transport and internet services in parts of the capital.
The party's founder, Abhijeet Dipke, and two other leaders were detained after arriving by plane from Mumbai; small protests took place elsewhere in the city.
The dispute comes months before crucial state elections, and the sources do not say what will happen next.
More than 1,000 people were detained across New Delhi ahead of a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest, according to Al Jazeera and Hindustan Times; the BBC described hundreds of detentions.
The CJP and other groups planned to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demand his resignation over changes to electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision.
The CJP and opposition parties accused Kumar and the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using the voter-list revision to influence elections; the Election Commission and BJP denied the allegations.
Police refused permission for the protest at Jantar Mantar, sealed off the site and detained protesters, journalists and opposition figures.
Security measures included a large police deployment, barricades and restrictions on transport and public services, according to Al Jazeera and Hindustan Times.
- Who
- Cockroach Janta Party protesters, opposition figures and others; police detained more than 1,000 people, according to Al Jazeera and Hindustan Times.
- What
- A protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and electoral-roll changes was restricted, with hundreds or more than 1,000 people detained.
- When
- Saturday, October 10, 2026; Hindustan Times also reports detentions late on Friday.
- Where
- New Delhi, India, including the planned protest site at Jantar Mantar.
- Why
- The protesters sought Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls; police said detentions aimed to prevent mass mobilisation and maintain law and order.
Cockroach Janta Party and opposition parties
Election Commission and Bharatiya Janata Party
Electoral-roll revision
Cockroach Janta Party and opposition parties
The CJP and opposition parties allege that the revision of voter lists is being used to favour the BJP and that people have been wrongly removed.
Election Commission and Bharatiya Janata Party
The Election Commission said the update was a routine exercise to remove dead, duplicate or ineligible voters, and it and the BJP denied allegations of favouritism.
Protest and detentions
Cockroach Janta Party and opposition parties
The CJP said it intended to go ahead with the demonstration and described the detention of its leaders as intimidation.
Election Commission and Bharatiya Janata Party
Police said detentions were intended to prevent mass mobilisation and maintain law and order; the BJP's Sambit Patra dismissed the demonstrators as “anarchic elements”.
Police began detaining people in several districts and near border areas and transport hubs ahead of the planned protest.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and associates Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained after arriving on a flight from Mumbai.
Police sealed off Jantar Mantar and detained protesters and others as security measures were put in place across New Delhi.
Small protests took place elsewhere in the city, including at Dilli Haat, while police detained people attempting to demonstrate.
- Reported detentions
- Al Jazeera and Hindustan Times reported more than 1,000; BBC reported hundreds.
- Planned protest site
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
- Chief Election Commissioner
- Gyanesh Kumar
- Detained CJP leaders
- Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka
- Police deployment
- Hindustan Times reported that more than 30,000 personnel would be on the ground.
- Planned protest date
- October 10, 2026
What people are saying
If you think you can stop us by threatening us with jail or trying to intimidate us with the fear of imprisonment, you are mistaken.
Their flop show has been completely demolished.
This is dictatorship live and in front of us, just to protect a bureaucrat who steals elections for the BJP on Modi’s behest.
Sources
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