India Detains Protesters and Leaders as 130 Million Voter Names Fuel New Delhi Lockdown
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Oct 10
India Detains Protesters and Leaders as 130 Million Voter Names Fuel New Delhi Lockdown
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Oct 10
Summary
Nearly 30,000 security personnel sealed central New Delhi on Saturday as police detained arriving protesters and Cockroach Janta Party leaders ahead of banned demonstrations.
The protest wave targets a voter-list revision that removed 130 million names and has triggered demands for Election Commission chief Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Authorities had already canceled trains to the capital, shut more than 50 metro stations, cut internet access and placed many students and activists under detention or house arrest across India.
The crackdown follows July protests that forced out Modi's education minister, and critics say the tougher response shows a government trying to prevent another mass challenge despite rising anger over disenfranchisement.