Central New Delhi saw protests against a review of India's electoral rolls after Election Commission data showed that around 130 million names had been removed during the initial stage of the process. Critics say the review benefits the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while the commission and the party deny any bias.
Police detain around 200 protesters
Organisers of the protest, supporters of the Kukroach, or Cockroaches, movement, had called for a gathering at 10am local time at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in the centre of the capital. Television footage showed police chasing young protesters in central New Delhi's commercial district before taking them to vehicles. A police source said around 200 protesters had been detained in the area.
A police spokesman also announced the arrest outside Delhi of Indian YouTube content creator Dhruv Rathee, who supports the protest. Witnesses said police stopped and searched vehicles at the city's entrances, while barriers and concrete blocks were deployed. Riot-control vehicles equipped with tear-gas launchers were stationed on major roads.
Kukroach Janata party announces aim of protest
The Kukroach Janata party said the action aimed to “save democracy”, adding that it sought to organise the largest demonstration in a series of protests that began last week. The protests followed a report by The Indian Express that lawmakers had questioned Election Commission chief Gyanesh Kumar and disagreed with him over the review of the electoral rolls.
Kumar did not comment on the allegations against the review process. Delhi Police had announced on Friday that it had not granted permission for the demonstration and warned that legal action would be taken against violators, while organisers maintained that protesting was a fundamental right.
