Indian authorities imposed a broad security lockdown across central Delhi on Saturday, deploying tens of thousands of personnel and detaining thousands of people to prevent a planned protest by the youth-led Cockroach Janata Party.

The group, known for its Gen Z supporters, had called for a rally at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a contentious revision of voter lists. Critics of the revision claim it unfairly benefits Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.

Delhi Police denied permission for the gathering, citing procedural issues and potential law-and-order risks. Officials closed dozens of metro stations, canceled multiple trains into the capital, restricted vehicle movement at checkpoints, and suspended mobile internet services in parts of central Delhi.

More than 25,000 police and paramilitary forces were deployed. Key leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party, including founder Abhijeet Dipke and spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained upon arrival at Delhi airport from Mumbai. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and opposition figures such as Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee were also taken into custody.

Reports indicated between 2,000 and 3,000 detentions by afternoon, with many individuals intercepted before reaching the protest site and transported to temporary facilities. Protesters attempted scattered flash demonstrations at locations including Connaught Place and Dilli Haat, but police quickly dispersed those gatherings.

The action follows earlier successful protests by the same movement that contributed to the resignation of the education minister in July over exam paper leaks. Authorities described the measures as necessary to maintain public order in the national capital.