Central Delhi was placed under a heavy security lockdown on Saturday as thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed to manage potential unrest. The measures, which included the closure of metro stations, the suspension of mobile internet services, and the shuttering of local markets, were enacted in response to a planned protest organized by a group known as the “cockroach” youth movement.

The demonstrators are calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The core of the grievance stems from recent revisions to national voter lists. Critics, including the protest organizers, allege that these changes were designed to unfairly benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The movement aims to mobilize thousands of participants to voice their concerns regarding the integrity of the electoral process under the current leadership.

While the protest is framed by organizers as a necessary stand for democratic accountability, the government has responded with significant security infrastructure to maintain order in the capital. The situation remains tense as authorities attempt to balance the right to assembly with the maintenance of public order in the city center.