10.10.2026 18:10
In New Delhi, the capital of India, extensive security measures were taken ahead of a protest that the "Cockroach" movement planned to organize, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Roads were closed at key points in the city, while metro stations and marketplaces were also temporarily put out of service. Police detained more than 2,000 people, including the movement's founder and administrators.
Allegations of irregularities regarding elections in India brought about a new protest attempt. The demonstration in New Delhi by the youth movement organized under the name "Cockroach" was prevented by the intervention of security forces.
EXTRAORDINARY SECURITY MEASURES IN THE CAPITAL
Thousands of police officers and paramilitary personnel were assigned for the demonstration planned to be held in New Delhi's Jantar Mantar area. Security forces placed barricades and concrete blocks at the city's entry points. While vehicles were stopped and checked on the main roads, protesters were searched on buses. Dozens of metro stations and marketplaces were closed, and mobile internet access was suspended in some central areas. Security vehicles equipped with tear gas launching systems were also deployed on critical routes. Many demonstrators coming from outside the city were unable to reach the area where the protest was to be held due to heavy security measures.
THE FOUNDER OF THE MOVEMENT WAS ALSO DETAINED
Police detained the founder of the Cockroach youth movement, Abhijeet Dipke, along with the movement's prominent figures Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on a plane arriving from Mumbai to New Delhi. The number of those detained in operations across the capital exceeded 2,000.
THE REMOVAL OF 130 MILLION VOTERS FROM THE LISTS SPARKED DEBATE
Behind the protests are allegations of irregularities regarding the comprehensive changes made by the Election Commission of India to voter lists. It was reported that two election officials questioned the regulation carried out under Commission Chief Gyanesh Kumar that involved the removal of about 130 million names from voter lists. Opposition parties argue that the changes in question affected the results of the recent state elections won by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Election Commission and the BJP reject the allegations of irregularities. The Commission explains the updating of voter lists as a routine process aimed at removing dead, duplicate, or people who do not meet the conditions for being voters.