India sends 'cockroach' leaders to jail after protest
New Delhi (India) (AFP) – Two leaders of India's youth-led movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) were remanded in custody for five days on Wednesday, as police clamp down on protests against the election commission.
CJP activists and opposition parties have defied a security crackdown to demand the resignation of India's chief election commissioner, accusing the poll body of manipulating voter rolls to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party.
The commission, which oversees voting in the world's most populous nation, has denied any wrongdoing.
Delhi Police said CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka, 30, and Saurav Das, 27, were taken into custody for their "alleged repeated attempts to disturb public peace and violate the law".
At the end of the five-day remand period, they could have their detention extended, be granted bail or be released.
On Tuesday, the pair jumped security barricades to wave the national flag at Jantar Mantar, a decades-old protest site that police have barred people from using.
"Their alleged attempts to instigate others through social media to engage in similar unlawful activities were also taken into consideration," police said.
Jantar Mantar, in the heart of the capital, has been sealed off for days with yellow metal barricades and guarded by security personnel.
Delhi Police said on Monday it had removed the site from the list of designated protest venues.
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2 replies
It is sad to see India become so authoritarian
Things are really bad. Apparently the protest site is reneged, new site is a paid location, and entering the protest site, which is a public place, is now trespassing. Meanwhile the PM is claiming that his country is mother of democracy with open debates.