India’s ‘Cockroach’ leaders detained; New Delhi in lockdown

What the report says

Indian authorities detained more than 1,000 people in New Delhi on Saturday as police and paramilitary forces moved to block a planned protest by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and allied youth groups, according to Al Jazeera. The demonstrators were seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and were protesting a voter-roll revision known as the Special Intensive Revision, which opposition figures say has been used to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Al Jazeera reported that the gathering site at Jantar Mantar was sealed off before the protest could begin. It also said transport and communications were restricted across the capital, with train services into New Delhi cancelled, mobile internet suspended, and some metro stations and markets shut. Among those detained were CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and associates, along with journalists, student activists, lawyers and politicians. Small protests still took place in parts of the city, but reporters and protesters were also detained.

The crackdown drew criticism from opposition leaders and rights groups. BJP spokesman Sambit Patra dismissed the protesters as disruptive, while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of silencing dissent. Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists called for the release of detained activists and journalists. The episode comes amid wider concern over voter-list revisions and ahead of important state elections in 2027, making it a notable test of India’s political climate and civil liberties.