India's 'cockroach' movement leaders were detained by police ahead of a planned protest against the Election Commission, as the movement prepares to challenge ongoing voter list revisions.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, was arrested upon landing in Delhi after arriving from Mumbai, with other leaders and protesters also detained as authorities denied permission for the rally.
The protest, which was not authorized by police, has drawn significant public attention and has intensified scrutiny of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, with critics calling the crackdown on dissent 'unprecedented'.
The movement has vowed to continue its campaign despite the arrests, with an interim leader set to take over the protest at Jantar Mantar, as the government imposes strict restrictions on movement and communication in the capital.