India's 'cockroach' party founder detained ahead of protest

Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of India's "cockroach" protest movement, was arrested in Delhi prior to a protest march in the city center. His arrest comes after a police notice was issued prohibiting the march, with security forces deploying thousands in Delhi to thwart the gathering. Dipke's youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is demanding the resignation of India's election chief over accusations of tampering with voter lists.

The Election Commission denies these allegations. The protest was aimed at showing solidarity with two of CJP's leaders, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were recently jailed for five days for entering a protest zone that police had closed off. Dipke had previously been detained on Saturday when police boarded his plane upon landing in Delhi and took him away before he could reach a previously planned demonstration.

Despite the arrest, Dipke urged supporters to raise the Indian flag in their own towns and cities if they couldn't make it to Delhi, stating that he himself might be arrested but remained undeterred. Police had served Dipke with a notice warning him against holding the march without permission, and had also closed Central Park for two days, citing administrative reasons.

The CJP responded by changing their plans and urging supporters to enter Connaught Place in small groups, unfurl the flag, take a photograph, and then leave. By the time the protest was set to begin, around 200-300 people had gathered near Central Park, but were prevented from entering by police.