Indian authorities imposed a security lockdown across New Delhi on Saturday and detaining scores of activists and opposition leaders to prevent a massive youth-led demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Security forces shut 45 metro stations, blocked major roadways with barricades, and suspended mobile internet in parts of the capital. Over 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed.
Police detained several key leaders of the "Cockroach" youth movement, including party founder Abhijeet Dipke, who was taken into custody directly from an aircraft upon landing from Mumbai. Authorities also detained journalists, lawyers and over 400 suspected protesters overnight.
The planned rally at Jantar Mantar follows media reports alleging that election authorities removed roughly 130 million names from national voter rolls. Opposition groups accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of manipulating voter records to favor its electoral prospects.
The Election Commission and the BJP denied the allegations, stating the removals were part of a routine verification process covering deceased, relocated or untraceable voters adding that eligible citizens can re-enroll.
Despite police denying permission for the demonstration, protesters attempted to march with chanting slogans before being rounded up in police buses. The daily protests mark a fresh political challenge for Prime Minister Modi ahead of upcoming state elections.
