India detains thousands, locks down Delhi to foil 'Cockroach' youth movement protests

New Delhi police apprehended over 2,000 demonstrators and the leader of the Cockroach youth movement during a protest on Saturday. The authorities sealed off parts of the city to prevent a rally demanding the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Security forces deployed more than 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel, suspended mobile internet services in the central business district, and closed dozens of metro stations and markets.

The protest aimed to address a revision of voter lists that critics claim unfairly favors Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The movement planned to gather thousands at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi, but security forces blocked the area before the demonstration commenced. Local media reported around 400 protesters detained in Mumbai, India's financial hub. Demonstrators in Delhi chanted "Long live the revolution" as police arrested scores, including Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, who defiantly declared, "I have come to be arrested, arrest me... I am not afraid of you guys."

The opposition, including opposition lawmakers and former chief ministers, were also detained. Protesters demanded the release of detained leaders and vowed to continue protesting until Kumar's resignation. Police set up checkpoints, boarded buses, and inspected vehicles, disrupting traffic across the capital of 20 million people. The unrest signals a significant challenge for Modi, fueled by allegations of improper voter list revisions ahead of recent state polls.