Delhi Under Heavy Security: Thousands of Police Deployed, Metro and Trains Curbed Ahead of CJP Protest Against Election Chief

Authorities have deployed tens of thousands of police and paramilitary personnel across Delhi and restricted transport in and around the capital ahead of a youth-led protest on Saturday, October 10, 2026. The demonstration, called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demands the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter-roll irregularities.

The CJP, which emerged online as a satirical political movement in May 2026, wants Gyanesh Kumar to resign and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls halted. Demonstrations spread across the country after a newspaper investigation last month alleged misconduct by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The ECI has rejected the allegations, saying the revision is meant to remove duplicate and ineligible voters. Critics say the exercise has disproportionately affected marginalised and minority communities, while BJP members have alleged that undocumented migrants entered the rolls.

The CJP says at least 10,000 people, including supporters travelling to Delhi by train, have been detained across the country. Some of those detained in Madhya Pradesh were reportedly taken to hotels, according to The Hindu. Hindustan Times, citing police sources, separately reported more than 1,000 detentions within Delhi. Police had not responded to the CJP's broader claims of mass detentions at the time of the reports, and the figures have not been independently verified.

CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke said on X that authorities would rather shut down the capital than allow a peaceful protest at a designated site. Neha Bora, national president of the All India Students' Association, said people can be detained but a movement cannot.

This is a developing story based on reports from AFP, PTI, Al Jazeera and other outlets as of October 10, 2026, and may be updated.