Indian police detained leaders of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party ahead of a major protest against the Election Commission, according to the party. At least 10,000 demonstrators were detained across the country days before a planned anti-government march in Delhi.
The party, which began as an online youth campaign in May, has organized street protests across the country, demanding the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a controversial voter list revision. The revision has removed over 130 million names, affecting voters disproportionately.
The government and election commission deny the allegations, stating the revision aims to eliminate duplicate and ineligible entries. However, opposition parties and activists accuse authorities of using brute force to suppress dissent ahead of Saturday's planned demonstration.
The protests mark a new political challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who faces mounting pressure as the movement gains momentum. The incident follows similar demonstrations that led to the resignation of his education minister over exam paper leaks.