Indian police detain 'cockroach' movement founder Dipke ahead of protest

Delhi's police apprehended Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of India's Cockroach movement, on Friday as per live footage shared by his group, prior to a protest he had organized in the central business district. The rally is part of a series of demonstrations advocating for the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar.

The pro-Dipke-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), along with opposition groups and student organizations, have been staging nearly daily protests this month, protesting the Chief Election Commissioner's removal over a voter list revision that critics allege favors Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Over 130 million voters were removed during the revision, but the Election Commission maintains that it did not favor any political party and that wrongly deleted voters can re-register.

The BJP has accused its opponents of attempting to undermine democracy by questioning the electoral process. Dipke had called for the Friday protest to support two CJP leaders who were arrested and jailed earlier in the week after violating a protest ban at a demonstration site. The group and left-wing student organizations urged their supporters to congregate at Connaught Place in New Delhi's bustling shopping and food district on Friday evening to display the national flag.

Video footage posted on CJP's Instagram account showed Dipke leaving his residence and walking towards the street, whereupon police officers halted him and, after a brief altercation, forcibly placed him into a police vehicle and drove away. "We are detaining you right now," a police officer could be heard instructing Dipke. "I have not violated any law; how can you detain me?"

Dipke questioned the officers as he was taken away. No immediate response from the police was forthcoming regarding the detention. Earlier in the day, police had approached Dipke and cautioned him against holding the planned protest.