India’s ‘Cockroach’ movement founder and leaders released from detention after Delhi protest crackdown

In a significant turn of events on Sunday, three key figures from the burgeoning youth-led political movement, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), were released from detention in New Delhi. The group was initially apprehended on Saturday as their aircraft touched down in the Indian capital, following a highly publicized protest. Abhijeet Dipke, the movement's founder, was among those detained, despite the party's determination to continue their demonstration.

The group's legal representative, Ratna Singh, announced on X, the social media platform, that the three leaders were released under the condition that they would not incite unrest for the next year. Following their release, Dipke expressed dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating he was returning home to be with family during a difficult time.

Despite the initial setback, the CJP maintained their resolve, with Dipke pledging that the party would not be deterred. The movement, which began as a viral internet joke in May, has since evolved into a nationwide campaign against Modi's government, with the election commission becoming their latest target. The chief of the Election Commission, Gyanesh Kumar, is accused by CJP leaders of disenfranchising millions of citizens.