Delhi Braces for Protests After Activists Freed

A court in India’s capital, Delhi, has ordered the release of leaders of the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), as authorities prepare for further protests over electoral reforms and alleged voter-list manipulation.

CJP Leaders Released by Court

Abhijeet Dipke, who founded the movement in May, and fellow leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained on Saturday after arriving in Delhi to lead demonstrations. Police had refused permission for the protest and imposed extensive restrictions to prevent demonstrators from reaching the planned venue. CJP lawyer Ratna Singh later announced on X that the three leaders had been released by a court on the condition that they would not engage in breaches of public peace for one year. It remains unclear how the condition will affect their ability to participate in protests.

Thousands Detained During Demonstrations

Authorities deployed thousands of police and paramilitary personnel across the capital, erected road barricades and restricted access to key areas. Media reports said around 7,000 people were detained during Saturday’s demonstrations and released later that night. At least 45 metro stations were shut, while major railway stations were also closed and several train services cancelled. Some protesters travelling from other areas were removed from trains before reaching Delhi. Only a small number of demonstrators reached Jantar Mantar, where police quickly removed them. Student leader Neha Bora was also detained after attempting to march from Dilli Haat towards the protest site.

Electoral Roll Changes Spark Controversy

The protests centre on a nationwide exercise to update electoral rolls. The Election Commission says the process is intended to remove the names of deceased, duplicate and otherwise ineligible voters. However, at least 130 million names have reportedly been removed so far, with allegations in several states that eligible voters have been wrongly excluded. The CJP and opposition parties accuse Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of favouring Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party through the process. The Election Commission and the BJP have denied the allegations.

Movement Emerged From Youth Anger

The CJP began after Dipke responded to a remark by Chief Justice Surya Kant, who had compared some unemployed young people to “cockroaches”. Dipke’s post on X asking what would happen if “all cockroaches come together” went viral in May, helping establish the movement. The group gained support amid public frustration over unemployment, examination paper leaks and government accountability. Its earlier demonstrations focused on education reforms and demands for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The five-week protest campaign ended in July after the minister resigned. The CJP has called for further demonstrations on Sunday, while security restrictions remain in place across Delhi.