Indian police detain Cockroach Janta Party founder ahead of youth protest

Authorities in the Indian capital detained the leader of the youth movement Cockroach Janta Party, Abhijeet Dipke, alongside fellow organizers Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on Saturday after their flight arrived at Delhi airport, CNA Asia reported. The arrests came ahead of a planned major demonstration calling for the stepping down of India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar.

Police reportedly approached Dipke upon his arrival from Mumbai and directed him to call off the gathering because officials had banned the demonstration. The political movement confirmed that Das and Ranka were similarly taken into custody straight from their plane, labeling the measures an orchestrated effort to disrupt the rally's leadership. Separately, Ratna Singh, head of the party's legal division, stated in a video that she and three other attorneys were stopped and held inside their vehicle by dozens of officers without explanation.

Other figures were also swept up in the security clampdown. Local outlet The Times of India reported that internet personality Dhruv Rathee, who traveled from Germany to join the demonstration, was detained at his Gurugram home after ignoring police warnings. Media organizations reported that at least four journalists covering the event were detained, while the president of the Supreme Court bar association noted that several demonstrating lawyers near the court were also taken away.

To prevent crowds from assembling at the central Jantar Mantar protest area, security agencies implemented extensive travel and communication restrictions across the capital. Authorities shut 45 metro stations, blocked key roads with barriers, stopped incoming buses to check passengers, and cut mobile internet services in parts of central Delhi. Despite the heavy security presence, young demonstrators attempted to gather and chanted slogans before police dragged dozens into transport vehicles.

The unrest follows reporting by the Indian Express indicating that internal disputes had arisen within the Election Commission over electoral roll revisions that purged around 130 million entries. Critics argue the voter roll changes disproportionately favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The election body maintains that the removed entries reflect standard draft revisions covering individuals who have passed away, moved, or could not be found, adding that erroneously removed voters can re-register. The ruling party and election authorities have denied all allegations of wrongdoing.