India detains Cockroach Party leader, releases him on peace bond

Indian police detained Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach People's Party (CJP), at New Delhi airport on Friday as he arrived for a demonstration against the government's voter list revision. Officers also took two other party representatives into custody. Authorities had banned the gathering, citing a late permit request, and deployed tens of thousands of personnel to block roads around Jantar Mantar square.

More than 2,000 protesters were rounded up during the day, though most were released within hours. Dipke, along with associates Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, remained in custody until Saturday when their lawyer, Ratna Singh, confirmed they were freed on condition they do not breach the peace for one year. It is unclear whether the bond restricts future political activity.

“What is happening today is an attempt by anarchic forces to hold India hostage.”

Opposition parties allege the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has struck off up to 130 million voters since it began in Bihar last year and spread nationwide. The Election Commission says the drive only removes duplicate or ineligible entries, but critics warn rolls in some areas have shrunk by as much as 30 percent.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra dismissed the protest as the work of "anarchic forces" trying to hold India hostage. Opposition leader Mamata Banerjee and economist Jean Drèze were also briefly detained during a separate sit-in nearby.