NEW DELHI: Indian authorities have detained several members and supporters of the Gen Z-led “Cockroach” youth movement ahead of a planned protest in Delhi, the group said on Thursday.
The movement and its leaders said activists from across India, including senior Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) member and spokesperson Deepak Baliyan, were among those detained. The group said students from Pune travelling to Delhi for the October 10 rally were also taken away by authorities.
Videos shared on social media appeared to show activists being taken away in police vans, although Reuters said it could not independently verify the claims or footage. Police authorities had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
The CJP has been organising protests with opposition parties and student groups to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a controversial revision of voter lists.
The demonstrations have emerged as a fresh political challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Opposition parties and the CJP have accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of manipulating voter lists to benefit itself, allegations denied by both the BJP and the Election Commission.
Hundreds of CJP supporters also demonstrated in Bengaluru on Thursday, carrying placards including “Every name counts, Every vote matters” and “Stop the Murder of Democracy”.
Protests were also reported in other parts of India. Congress supporters held a demonstration in Telangana, while the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal organised a similar protest in Bihar.
Tensions have increased following the detention of opposition politicians. Congress alleged that police had used force to briefly detain party leader Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Vadra and other lawmakers on Wednesday as they attempted to reach a protest site in New Delhi.
Delhi Police rejected the allegations, saying such claims were being used to defame the force. Senior police officer Shrishti Pandey said authorities were ensuring that legal duties were carried out without unnecessary action.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also rejected the opposition’s allegations, calling them baseless.
The protests come months after demonstrations led by the CJP contributed to the resignation of India’s education minister over exam paper leak allegations, adding to pressure on Modi’s government.
