India detains over 2,000 protesters and locks down parts of Delhi over demand for election chief to resign
On Saturday police in India's capital, Delhi, detained more than 2,000 protesters, including the founder of the "cockroach" youth movement. Security forces sealed off parts of the city to stop a rally against the country's election chief.
Police in India's capital, Delhi, detained more than 2,000 protesters on Saturday, among them the founder of a youth movement known as the "cockroach" movement. Security forces locked down parts of the city to prevent a rally that was meant to demand the resignation of India's election chief.
What happened
According to France 24, the authorities responded to the planned demonstration with sweeping restrictions. Sections of the capital were placed under lockdown, and police took thousands of people into custody. The founder of the youth movement was among those held.
The protest demand
Participants in the rally were calling for the head of India's election authority to step down. The source does not explain in more detail what prompted this demand, so those reasons are not given here.
Why it matters
The episode shows that Indian authorities were prepared to use mass detentions and to close off parts of the national capital to stop a protest aimed at the official in charge of elections. France 24 covered the situation through its correspondent Navodita Kumari.
