(Adnkronos) – Leaders of the ‘cockroach’ movement, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), have been arrested in India. Protests continue in the Asian giant demanding the resignation of the head of the Election Commission, Gyanesh Kumar. In the background are accusations of alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls during a disputed review process. This morning, the BBC reports, CJP leaders were arrested after managing to reach Jantar Mantar, a heavily guarded area, and chanting slogans demanding Kumar’s departure.
Movement founder Abhijeet Dipke shared a video showing Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das being taken away by the Police. The footage shows the two, along with other people, climbing over barricades armed with Indian flags. Then, in an Instagram video, Ranka appears on a police bus with other arrested individuals. It is unclear where they were taken, the British network notes.
Police had reinforced security measures in Delhi, considering a potential ‘challenge’ by protesters to the provisions regarding authorized demonstration sites. Yesterday, authorities excluded Jantar Mantar from authorized sites after the CJP had met with police officials requesting authorization for a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar.
According to the opposition, the revision of electoral rolls could disenfranchise some voters to the advantage of the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party. An accusation rejected by both the Election Commission and the political party. Dipke, Ranka, and Das had already been arrested over the weekend when thousands of people were detained and soon released by the Police.
