India detains protest leaders as voter-roll protests spread in Delhi
Demonstrators want the election chief to quit after more than 130 million names were removed from voter lists. Critics say the purge benefits the party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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What happened
Thousands have marched in New Delhi and other cities against the removal of over 130 million people from electoral rolls. Police have blocked the main protest site, detained leaders of the youth movement, and withdrawn official protest-site status from Jantar Mantar. The opposition has vowed to challenge the government's decision on Jantar Mantar.
Why it matters
The crackdown has raised questions about India's electoral independence. The unrest has also created a crisis for Modi's government.
Timeline
- Oct 13, 2:06 AM ET: Indian police detained top leaders of the 'cockroach' youth movement after they jumped barricades to enter a historic observatory's grounds, as they demanded the election chief's resignation.
- Oct 13, 10:40 PM ET: Authorities moved to shut down Delhi's Jantar Mantar, a protest site used for about three decades, as the protests continued.
- Oct 14, 3:45 AM ET: An order from Delhi Police withdrew official protest-site status from Jantar Mantar, and two leaders of the CJP movement were detained.
- Oct 14, 4:31 AM ET: Journalists and press freedom groups accused police of obstructing reporters covering the youth protests, saying dozens of journalists were detained and beaten over the weekend.
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