Delhi Detains 7,000 to Stop Protest Demanding Election Chief Resignation in Most Dangerous Countries
Delhi authorities detained thousands of people and deployed over 40,000 security personnel to prevent protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in one of the most dangerous countries, while separate civil unrest incidents unfolded in South Africa and at the US Capitol.
Delhi Police Detain Thousands to Block Election Chief Protest in Most Dangerous Countries
Police detained more than 2,000 protesters and the founder of the Cockroach youth movement in Delhi on Saturday as security forces locked down parts of the capital to thwart a rally demanding the resignation of India’s election chief. [5] Around 41,000 security personnel were deployed across the Capital on Saturday to prevent a planned demonstration demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. [2] The security operation led to the detention of 7,000 people and left large parts of Delhi deserted. [2] Four former chief ministers, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar, were among those detained as police cracked down on students, lawyers and politicians. [2] Security measures included laying spike strips on major roads, setting up thousands of yellow barricades that restricted traffic and using loudspeakers to play recorded police warnings against unlawful gatherings. [2] Jantar Mantar, the intended site of Saturday’s demonstration, remained sealed, with even journalists barred from entering. [3] Mobile internet services were suspended in the central business district and dozens of metro stations and markets were shut as authorities moved to stop a demonstration organized by the Cockroach movement. [5] The protest was aimed at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a revision of voter lists that critics say disproportionately benefits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). [5]
CJP Leaders Held Under Preventive Arrest
CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been placed under preventive arrest under Sections 126 and 170 of the BNSS. [2] The CJP leaders were taken into custody from inside a flight after it landed at the Delhi airport on Saturday. [2] They will be produced before the executive magistrate in Delhi Cantonment on Sunday. [2] The whereabouts of Dipke, Das and Ranka remain unknown. [2] Delhi Police has not responded to requests for information about their location. [2] Abhijeet Dipke’s family has put his grandmother’s last rites on hold, hoping he would return. [3] Abhijeet Dipke’s father accused Delhi Police of lying, saying the family has been unable to contact him and that his friends told him he had been shifted elsewhere and was no longer in Delhi. [3] With the leaders absent, CJP member Ajinkya Shinde said protesters would march towards Jantar Mantar again on Sunday and continue their agitation until chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns. [2]
Supreme Court to Hear Contempt and Detention Challenges
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hold a special sitting to hear petitions challenging the crackdown. [2] The Supreme Court will hear a contempt plea on Sunday alleging that authorities failed to follow its Friday order against blanket restrictions on metro and railway services. [2] The top court will also hear a petition challenging the preventive detention of Opposition leaders, including four former chief ministers, and other individuals. [2] The curbs on metro and rail services are being lifted. [3] All station gates open, DMRC shares update. [3] All trains to run as per normal schedule on October 11. [3] Janpath Metro station reopens, internet services working. [3]
Xenophobic Violence Hits South African Cities
At least 24 vehicles were torched and foreign-owned shops looted during anti-immigration protests in Soweto, a township outside Johannesburg, and in Durban. [4] Police reported that 14 vehicles were torched in Durban and 10 in Soweto, while three foreign nationals were arrested in connection with an alleged assault on a protester in Durban. [4] The Nigerian Union in South Africa has stated that it is impossible for all Nigerians living in the country to leave, amid renewed anti-immigration protests and attacks on foreign-owned businesses. [4] The President-General of NUSA, Smart Nwobi, said many Nigerians had lived in South Africa for decades, noting that some had settled before apartheid and established families and businesses there. [4] A flight left yesterday with around 150 people, and there are still between 1,500 and 2,000 Nigerians who are willing to leave. [4] The Federal Government put the number evacuated under its official programme at 1,490 as of July 15, 2026. [4]
Protesters Demand Arms Embargo at US Capitol
Hundreds rally outside US Capitol to demand arms embargo against Israel. [1] Protesters mark 3 years since the beginning of Gaza genocide, demand sanctions, arms embargo. [1]
Opposition Plans Further Action in India
The CJP announced another day of protests on Sunday. [2] Ajinkya Shinde called for a protest in Mumbai at 4pm today, with demonstrators set to assemble at T Junction, Shivaji Park. [3] The INDIA bloc has announced a separate protest for Monday, with top opposition leaders set to march to the Supreme Court. [3] Rahul Gandhi slams police action, says ‘not going to back down’. [3] Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was detained on Saturday during a silent protest outside the residence of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee on South Avenue. [3] She was taken to Dwarka in a prison van. [3] Banerjee said Rahul Gandhi had asked her to stay in Delhi for Monday's march. [3]
What to watch next: The Supreme Court special sitting on Sunday will address the contempt plea and detention petitions, while CJP plans to resume at Jantar Mantar and hold a Mumbai protest at Shivaji Park at 4pm, with the INDIA bloc marching to the Supreme Court on Monday.
