India detains 'cockroach' leaders
Summary
Indian police detained the head of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party and two other leaders ahead of a major protest in New Delhi against the Election Commission’s voter-roll revision. The crackdown has led to mass detentions, transport shutdowns and sharp criticism from opposition leaders and rights groups.
Key Points
- Indian police detained Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and two other leaders before they could join a protest in New Delhi.
- The demonstration targets the Election Commission of India’s voter-roll revision, which critics say could disenfranchise millions and benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party.
- Delhi has been placed under heavy security, with thousands of police deployed, metro stations closed, trains cancelled and mobile internet restricted around the protest site.
- Amnesty International and opposition figures, including Arvind Kejriwal, condemned the detentions and restrictions as intimidation and a crackdown on peaceful dissent.
