Indian authorities clamp down as ‘cockroach’ movement launches new protests

Demonstrators gathering in Mumbai and New Delhi to demand the resignation of Election Commission chief meet stern police response.Published On 2 Oct 20262 Oct 2026Indian security forces have clamped down as the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), other student coalitions and opposition forces gathered for planned protests in New Delhi and Mumbai.Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel surrounded a barricaded protest site in the centre of the capital on Friday and bundled demonstrators into buses as they arrived. The CJP warned the government last week that it would launch nationwide protests unless the Election Commission chief resigned amid a voter roll controversy.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4India’s Cockroach movement joins opposition push to oust election chieflist 2 of 4After Gen Z, India’s Gen Alpha rises, demanding education reformslist 3 of 4India’s ‘cockroach’ movement demands election chief’s resignationlist 4 of 4‘Shaken faith’: Why are India’s elections under unprecedented scrutiny?end of listAuthorities closed at least 11 metro stations around the Jantar Mantar observatory, where the protesters were assembling, and repeatedly issued warnings t...