Indian authorities clamp down as ‘cockroach’ movement launches new protests

Demonstrators gathering successful Mumbai and New Delhi to request the resignation of Election Commission main conscionable stern constabulary response.

Indian information forces person clamped down arsenic the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), different pupil coalitions and absorption forces gathered for planned protests successful New Delhi and Mumbai.

Hundreds of constabulary and paramilitary unit surrounded a barricaded protestation tract successful the centre of the superior connected Friday and bundled demonstrators into buses arsenic they arrived. The CJP warned the authorities past week that it would motorboat nationwide protests unless the Election Commission main resigned amid a elector rotation controversy.

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Authorities closed astatine slightest 11 metro stations astir the Jantar Mantar observatory, wherever the protesters were assembling, and repeatedly issued warnings to disperse from loudspeakers.

Delhi Police earlier imposed Section 163, which bars gatherings of much than 5 people, the usage of slogans, speechmaking and different protestation activities, The Times of India reported.

Reports astir 3pm (09:30 GMT) suggested that much than 500 radical – including erstwhile Delhi Chief Minister Atishi Marlena, members of the Aam Aadmi absorption enactment and members of pupil organisations – had been arrested successful New Delhi.

“The close to protestation is our cardinal right, and we privation answers from the authorities connected ballot theft,” demonstrator Rishabh Singh said arsenic constabulary shoved him into a bus, according to the Reuters quality agency.

In Mumbai, wherever protests were planned to statesman astatine 4pm (10:30 GMT), a assemblage dilatory grew successful Shivaji Park. A dense constabulary beingness patrolled the area, wherever they besides declared a no-parking zone.

Protesters respond arsenic constabulary effort to detain them successful New Delhi connected October 2, 2026 [Adnan Abidi/Reuters]

The CJP called the latest circular of protests aft the Indian Express paper reported that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s 2 deputies had formally raised concerns astatine slightest 14 times successful the past 10 months implicit revisions to elector lists, registration procedures and integer systems.

Critics said a nationwide voter-verification workout launched past twelvemonth led to millions of eligible voters being removed from electoral rolls. They said the changes favour Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The committee has denied the allegations and said the changes removed duplicate, deceased oregon ineligible voters.

The CJP said it plans to grow demonstrations nationwide successful the coming days.

“We volition yet extremity it lone erstwhile Gyanesh Kumar resigns. He has to go,” Saurav Das, CJP’s convener, said successful remarks connected Friday that were reported by The Times of India.

“We volition guarantee that helium is removed from that position, each his crimes are undone and helium pays for the crimes helium has committed against the young procreation and against the country.”

Opposition protests led by the Indian National Congress enactment are besides acceptable to request Kumar’s resignation starting connected Tuesday.

India’s “cockroach movement” began with online satire mocking the authorities earlier amassing millions of followers connected societal media. It has since brought thousands onto the streets, including during wide demonstrations successful July that led to the resignation of India’s acquisition minister.

Those protests besides drew an outsized constabulary effect with Amnesty International reporting that authorities utilized lethal weapons to suppress crowds.