New Delhi looked more like a fortress than a capital on Saturday, October 10, as police detained hundreds of people to stop a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. Among those picked up were YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, the founders of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and several senior opposition leaders, while dozens of Metro stations and mobile internet in central Delhi were shut.
The protest had been called for 10 am at Jantar Mantar. By the time that hour came, the area was sealed, and small groups of protesters were being led into buses near Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Sansad Marg and other points in Lutyens' Delhi.
Why people were protesting
The anger centres on the SIR exercise, under which, according to Election Commission data cited by Reuters and other outlets, around 13 crore (130 million) entries have been removed from electoral rolls. The protesters and opposition parties say genuine voters have been struck off and want the process suspended, deleted names restored and the CEC removed.
The Election Commission denies any wrongdoing. Its position, as reported by international agencies, is that the revision is a routine clean-up of dead, shifted, duplicate or ineligible entries, and that any eligible voter wrongly deleted can apply to be re-enrolled. CEC Gyanesh Kumar himself has not commented on the protest.
Who called the protest
The Cockroach Janta Party is not a registered political party. It is a satirical, youth-led movement that took off earlier this year and has drawn students, Left student groups, farmers' organisations and, for this protest, support from the Aam Aadmi Party. Its founder is Abhijeet Dipke, with Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka as co-convenors.
Delhi Police had refused permission in advance. Officers said the application came in on October 7, while at least ten days' notice is required, and warned that any gathering would be treated as illegal.
Who was detained
The detentions began even before the protest started:
- Dhruv Rathee: the YouTuber was detained at his home in Gurugram early on Saturday morning. A police spokesperson confirmed the detention to Reuters, and PTI reported that Crime Branch teams questioned him before taking him towards Delhi. There was no confirmed word on his release at the time of writing.
- CJP leaders: Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were taken into custody at Delhi's IGI Airport after arriving on a flight from Mumbai.
- Opposition leaders: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and CPI(M) leaders Pinarayi Vijayan, John Brittas and Brinda Karat were among those detained during the day, along with Yogendra Yadav and student leaders.
- Journalists: Reuters reported that several reporters, including one of its own, were briefly held and released.
The total number is disputed. Delhi Police said around 500 people had been detained by mid-morning. Reuters, quoting an unnamed home ministry official, put the figure at more than 2,000 in Delhi, with hundreds more held in Mumbai. Police sources told ANI that most detainees were released by late Saturday, except the CJP leaders, who face legal action.
How the city was locked down
| Date | Saturday, October 10, 2026 |
| Planned venue | Jantar Mantar, New Delhi (permission denied) |
| Organiser | Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) |
| Key demand | Resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, halt to SIR |
| Metro | 45 stations closed, including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat and Mandi House |
| Internet | Mobile data suspended within about 4 km of Jantar Mantar for 24 hours |
| Trains | Over 200 trains to New Delhi and Nizamuddin cancelled |
| Security | Tens of thousands of police and central forces deployed |
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation closed entry and exit at 45 stations from Friday night, citing security. The original plan covered more stations, but it was trimmed after the Supreme Court said on Friday that there cannot be a complete shutdown of Metro and rail services. Liquor shops were shut, prohibitory orders were in force in parts of central Delhi and Noida, and the Union Home Secretary asked states to check "unauthorised entry" into the capital.
What leaders said
The BJP accused the opposition of trying to use street protests for political ends, with spokesperson Sambit Patra calling the protesters anarchists.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, speaking in Chennai, urged young people to keep protesting and said the opposition would defend the Constitution. A day earlier, a 10-member INDIA bloc delegation met President Droupadi Murmu and handed over a memorandum seeking the CEC's removal and a halt to the SIR. Rahul Gandhi later said the President asked them to bring proof of their allegations. Rashtrapati Bhavan has not issued a statement on the meeting.
The UN human rights office also voiced concern over what it called mass detentions and called for those held to be released.
What it means for voters
For ordinary voters, the practical takeaway is simple: check your name on the electoral roll. If it has been removed and you are eligible, the Election Commission says you can apply to be added back. With major state elections due from early 2027, the row over the voter list is unlikely to die down soon.
What happens next
- The CJP has called another march to Jantar Mantar on Sunday, October 11, at 10 am, saying protests will continue until the CEC resigns.
- The INDIA bloc has announced its own protest in Delhi on Monday, October 12, and plans to submit a memorandum to Chief Justice Surya Kant.
- Heavy security deployment is expected to stay in place in central Delhi over the weekend.
Delhi residents should check Metro and traffic advisories before travelling into central Delhi on Sunday and Monday.
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