Indian authorities enforce security lockdown and detain protesters in New Delhi to block anti-government demonstration

Indian authorities enforced a severe security lockdown across New Delhi and detained tens of thousands of people, including Abhijeet Dipke, leader of the youth-led “Cockroach Janata party” (CJP), to block a planned anti-government demonstration.

The protest was called by the CJP, opposition parties, and student groups to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Critics allege that a recent voter roll revision exercise, known as the special intensive revision, stripped 130 million names from India’s electoral rolls to entrench the power of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. An investigation published last month by the Indian Express alleged irregularities in the process, prompting widespread backlash and Supreme Court orders for the government and election commission to respond.

Delhi police denied permission for the protest at Jantar Mantra and deployed more than 25,000 security personnel. Authorities implemented extensive disruptions ahead of Saturday, cancelling all incoming train services to two major stations for 10 hours, shutting nearly 50 metro stations, ordering schools and courtrooms online, and restricting hotels from accepting new customers. Police checkpoints were established along highways, and delivery and transport services were restricted near the capital.

Police detained Dipke at Delhi airport upon his arrival, alongside other movement figures. Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was placed under house arrest, former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was detained at the protest site, and student leader Neha Bora was taken into custody. Opposition figures, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, were also blocked or detained attempting to reach the protest area.

Protesters and civil society members expressed defiance despite the crackdown. Paravin Singhal, a 75-year-old lawyer detained near Jantar Mantar, stated that his voting rights had been arbitrarily revoked after fifty years of participation.

A Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson dismissed the allegations as lacking evidence, accusing the opposition of anarchist behavior. The demonstration follows a July campaign by the Cockroach movement that led to the resignation of Modi’s education minister.