NEW DELHI: Indian police detained scores of protesters in New Delhi on Saturday as thousands of security personnel patrolled the capital amid restrictions on transport, mobile internet services and public movement.
The measures came as a youth-led movement prepared to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a controversial revision of voter lists.
The demonstration, organised by the “Cockroach” youth movement and associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), seeks Kumar’s resignation and has raised fresh questions about electoral transparency and democratic accountability in India.
Police detained around 200 protesters in central New Delhi, according to a police source cited by Reuters. Authorities also detained YouTube personality Dhruv Rathee outside the capital, a police spokesperson said.
Television footage showed officers chasing young demonstrators before taking them into police vehicles. Metro stations and markets were shut in affected areas, while mobile internet services were suspended. Security personnel checked buses and vehicles at entry points, and barricades restricted traffic along key routes.
Anti-riot vehicles equipped with tear gas launchers were also deployed. Police said the restrictions were precautionary measures intended to prevent overcrowding, maintain public order and protect people in affected areas.
The protest, promoted under the slogan “Save Democracy,” represents a growing challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Organisers planned to gather at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in New Delhi, despite police refusing permission for the demonstration.
Movement founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised the restrictions, questioning why authorities had suspended transport services and internet access. Protest organisers maintained that demonstrating was their fundamental right.
Controversy Surrounds 130 Million Voter Entries
The demonstrations follow a report that officials under the chief election commissioner had questioned or disagreed with aspects of the voter-list revision process. The report intensified concerns over the removal of approximately 130 million voter entries during a verification exercise.
According to Election Commission data cited by the report, the entries included around 63 million associated with people who had relocated, 30 million whose whereabouts could not be established and 28 million relating to deceased individuals.
The commission has said the figures concern entries flagged during the draft revision stage and that the exercise remains incomplete. It has also stated that voters removed incorrectly can register again.
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Opposition parties have alleged that voter deletions affected recent state election outcomes and accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of benefiting from the revisions. The BJP and the Election Commission have denied allegations of wrongdoing.
The controversy comes ahead of important state elections expected to begin in early 2027, including contests in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state.
With protests continuing and political tensions mounting, the dispute over voter registration has become a significant test of public confidence in India’s electoral institutions.
