Delhi locked down as police detain leaders and protesters ahead of youth rally

Police detained leaders and supporters of India’s Gen Z-led “Cockroach” movement on Saturday as authorities locked down parts of Delhi to prevent a rally demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and senior leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained after arriving on a flight from Mumbai, the movement said. Police also took protesters into custody at scattered demonstrations across the capital. Reports varied on the number detained: Reuters-based coverage described hundreds, while France 24 reported more than 2,000.

Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed, and security forces sealed off Jantar Mantar, where organizers had planned to gather. Dozens of metro stations and some markets were closed, trains to Delhi were cancelled, and mobile internet service was suspended in the central business district. Police had denied permission for the rally, saying restrictions were needed for public safety and to prevent overcrowding at the protest site.

The movement is demanding Kumar’s resignation over allegations that revisions to voter lists favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. India’s Election Commission has denied manipulating voter lists, while Kumar has not commented publicly on demands that he step down.

Small protests nevertheless emerged at other locations, where demonstrators called for Kumar’s resignation. The movement condemned its leaders’ detention and said the protest would continue.