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Indian police have detained Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the youth led Cockroach Janta Party, ahead of a planned demonstration in New Delhi, as protests demanding the resignation of the country's chief election commissioner continue to challenge the government's handling of voter registration.
Dipke and several supporters were detained on Friday before they could proceed with a rally planned at Central Park in Connaught Place, a busy commercial district in the capital. The demonstration had been organised in support of two movement leaders who were jailed for five days after participating in an earlier protest that allegedly violated restrictions at a designated demonstration site.
Video shared through the movement's social media accounts showed Dipke leaving a house before police officers stopped him and placed him in a vehicle. He questioned the legality of his detention, arguing that he had not broken any law at that point.
The movement subsequently accused the authorities of being afraid of young people waving the national flag. Student activist Neha Bora was also reportedly detained while attempting to reach the protest site with supporters.
Police said Dipke had been warned against proceeding with the demonstration. Senior officer Sachin Sharma told news agency ANI that the organiser had received a notice instructing him to comply with the law and informing him of the consequences of any violations. Security was increased around Connaught Place, and civic authorities closed the park.
The protests centre on a revision of India's voter lists that opposition parties and student groups say could unfairly affect communities unlikely to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. The Election Commission has denied favouring any political party and said voters whose names were wrongly removed can register again.
According to figures provided by the commission, approximately 130 million names were removed from voter lists. These included around 28 million people reported to have died, 63 million who had relocated and 30 million who could not be traced. Critics argue that the changes disproportionately affect Muslims and other minorities, a claim rejected by the commission and the ruling party.
Demonstrations have also taken place in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Patna, with protesters waving flags and confronting police barricades in some locations.
The Cockroach movement has gained prominence through sustained demonstrations and has become a notable source of pressure on the government. Earlier protests reportedly contributed to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following controversy over examination paper leaks.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused the opposition Congress party of exploiting young people for political purposes, arguing that their energy should instead be directed towards nation building.
With tensions continuing over voter registration and the handling of demonstrations, the latest detentions have added another flashpoint to an increasingly contentious debate about electoral transparency, public protest and political accountability in India.
