Delhi imposes sweeping lockdown as anti-CEC protests draw mass detentions

Delhi witnessed a massive security crackdown on Saturday, October 10, 2026, as authorities moved to suppress planned anti-government protests in the national capital. Security forces detained more than 3,300 people across the city, while officials barred public access to Jantar Mantar, a key protest venue in central Delhi.

The coordinated action came in response to demonstrations called by the Cockroach Janata Party and allied political groups demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The scale of the lockdown reflected official concerns about the potential size and impact of the planned mobilisation.

Access restrictions were enforced across sensitive areas of the capital to prevent demonstrators from converging at traditional protest sites. The detentions were carried out as part of the broader containment strategy deployed by authorities to control the situation on the ground.

The incident underscores ongoing tensions between opposition parties and the election commission, with political groupings seeking accountability from the country's top electoral official. The extent of the security response highlights the high-stakes nature of the dispute between the government and opposition forces.