Delhi Blocks Voter Roll Protest, Deploys 20,000 Security Personnel; Mass Detentions Reported

NEW DELHI, Oct 9: Indian authorities have stepped up security across the national capital and denied permission for a planned weekend protest against the deletion of voters from electoral rolls.

More than 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across Delhi ahead of the planned demonstration, the Press Trust of India reported.

The opposition, including the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has staged protests this week following reports that two election commissioners raised concerns with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over decisions related to voter list revisions in several states and federal territories. Protesters have demanded Kumar’s resignation, alleging that the process has resulted in the removal of a large number of voters.

The CJP had announced plans to march to Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site, on Saturday. However, Delhi Police said permission had been denied, citing the short notice and alleged non-compliance with conditions during an earlier demonstration.

Senior police official Nupur Prasad said the party had previously failed to follow lawful directions and its own undertakings when permission was granted for a protest.

Security measures also include the closure of entry and exit points at 57 metro stations from Friday evening. Indian Railways has cancelled several trains scheduled to arrive at two Delhi railway stations on Saturday, citing anticipated severe road congestion.

The CJP has claimed that thousands of young people have been detained. Party founder Abhijeet Dipke said he would travel to Delhi and join the march despite the restrictions.

The Election Commission said last week that its actions had been conducted in accordance with the law and its instructions. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the opposition Congress of attempting to create anarchy by targeting the commission.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has questioned the restrictions and asked the federal government to reconsider them.