Thousands of police and paramilitary forces locked down New Delhi on Saturday, blocking streets, shutting metro stations, and suspending mobile internet to prevent a major youth protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over disputed voter list revisions.
Authorities moved to block a demonstration called by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, bringing India’s capital to a near standstill. Security personnel deployed across the city erected multiple layers of yellow metal barricades around Jantar Mantar, the government-designated protest site in central New Delhi. Police had formally denied permission for the rally, citing short notice, safety concerns, and past violations during earlier demonstrations that resulted in serious law and order problems.
The restrictions imposed by law enforcement extended across the New Delhi district, where orders prohibiting the gathering of five or more persons remained in force. Officials deployed Delhi Police personnel, Central Armed Police Forces, and the Rapid Action Force, alongside buses and PCR vans, which temporarily restricted traffic movement in the area.
Police Detain Abhijeet Dipke And CJP Leaders Before Delhi Arrival
Police in New Delhi detained scores of demonstrators early Saturday, including Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke. Student union members and activists associated with the movement were placed under house arrest outside Delhi or intercepted while traveling to the capital by road and rail.
Ahead of his detention, the movement’s founder condemned the sweeping restrictions imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.
Local media reported that nearly 1,000 protesters had been detained across the capital by Saturday morning, while the party claimed that at least 10,000 people, including travelers heading to Delhi by train, were detained nationwide. Opposition figures condemned the tactics, with the National Conference stating that peaceful protest is a constitutional right of every citizen while criticizing the Centre for resorting to undemocratic methods.
Electoral Roll Revision Triggers Nationwide Discontent
The Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has expanded across the country since beginning last year in the eastern state of Bihar ahead of local elections. Critics and opposition parties argue that the voter list changes could disenfranchise millions of voters and disproportionately benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
National Conference Rajya Sabha MP Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan pointed to West Bengal where millions of voters were excluded from electoral rolls ahead of state elections. Amnesty International India board chair Aakar Patel noted that more than 133 million names have been removed from draft voter lists across 30 states and union territories since the overhaul began.
The Election Commission and the government have consistently rejected these allegations. Authorities maintain that the revision is necessary to remove duplicate and ineligible entries, ensure legitimate voters remain registered, and prevent foreign illegal immigrants from casting ballots in upcoming state elections.
Security Forces Enforce Complete Central New Delhi Lockdown
Approximately 22,000 armed personnel were brought from across the country in addition to more than 10,000 Delhi Police officers. Authorities ordered the closure of entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations across the capital while requesting reduced train frequencies to deter crowds. Mobile internet services were suspended within a 4-kilometer radius of Jantar Mantar following approval from the Union Home Ministry.
Schools in central areas shifted classes online, and hotels in nearby neighborhoods such as Paharganj received instructions to restrict accommodations for certain guests.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruled on Friday that some trains must continue running and ordered against a blanket closure of metro stations.