India detains hundreds, locks down Delhi to foil election chief protest
Summary
Police detained hundreds of protesters and locked down parts of Delhi to stop a demonstration demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest over voter-list revisions has escalated into a major challenge for Narendra Modi’s government and drawn detentions of opposition leaders and journalists.
Key Points
- Police detained hundreds of protesters and sealed off parts of Delhi, suspending mobile internet and shutting metro stations and markets ahead of the rally.
- The demonstration targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over voter-list revisions that critics say benefited Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.
- Authorities also detained Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and senior leaders, while opposition figures and some journalists were briefly held.
- The unrest has become one of the most serious political tests for Modi ahead of key state elections in 2027.
