The Cockroach Janta Party has accused the government of violating protesters’ rights.

New Delhi police arrested Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the youth movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), popularly known as the “Cockroaches,” on Friday just as a new protest began demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, head of the Election Commission.

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The arrest took place as the leader was heading to the protest, where hundreds of demonstrators had already gathered. In a video shared by the organization on its social media accounts, several officers can be seen forcibly putting Dipke into a police vehicle and taking him away.

“This government is very afraid of young people waving the national flag! Dictatorship!” the CJP said, describing the arrest of its leader as “a serious violation of his rights.”

Police also arrested student activist Neha Bora, another prominent figure in the protest movement. She was detained in front of the Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi while leading a march toward Connaught Place.

Abhijeet Dipke was quietly leaving for protest march. Within 24 seconds, Delhi Police detained him. pic.twitter.com/dtQgBRrclG

— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) October 16, 2026

“How many people will Modi-Shah arrest? For every arrest this government makes, more young people will take to the streets!” the Cockroach Janta Party said.

To try to circumvent the heavy security deployment in the capital’s central commercial district and avoid arrests for unlawful assembly, the movement had issued instructions to its supporters hours earlier.

The instructions were to arrive in groups of fewer than five people, unfurl the Indian tricolor flag (Tiranga), take a photograph and leave peacefully to demonstrate that waving the flag “is not a crime.”

We will not be silenced, we will build Jantar Mantars everywhere ✊🔥 See you in London tomorrow, bring your tiranga bring your voice 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/gez9ucwoJD

— Students’ Federation of India – United Kingdom (@sfi_uk) October 15, 2026

On Friday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issued a statement accusing the demonstrators of seeking an “anti-national revolution” and sowing “anarchy” in the country.

The arrests have left the organization almost entirely without its leadership, adding to the detention of two other spokespeople who remain in judicial custody at Tihar Jail after taking part in a protest Tuesday at Jantar Mantar, a traditional protest site from which authorities recently withdrew that designation.

The “Cockroaches,” which emerged in May as a satirical youth movement protesting unemployment and irregularities in university examinations, have expanded their demonstrations to include a review of the electoral rolls. They are demanding the resignation of Election Commission chief Gyanesh Kumar, whom they hold responsible for alleged irregularities.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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