A man walks past members of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) standing guard ahead of a protest planned by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) seeking the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, near the protest site in New Delhi, India, 10 October 2026.
A man walks past members of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) standing guard ahead of a protest planned by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) seeking the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, near the protest site in New Delhi, India, 10 October 2026.
India

In Frames: Delhi at Boiling Point

Tens of thousands of security forces deployed in New Delhi as the Gen Z-led 'cockroach' movement has called for a major protest on Saturday. The protesters are seeking electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of manipulating voters' lists. Here is a look at the tense standoff in frames so far.

Prothom Alo English DeskNew Delhi, India
People unload barricades from a police vehicle ahead of a protest planned by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) seeking the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India, 9 October 2026.
Security personnel stand guard outside the headquarters of the Election Commission of India on the day of a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest seeking the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, 10 October 2026.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters sleep at a park next to the site of a protest seeking the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, 10 October, 2026.
Security personnel arrive ahead of a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest seeking the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, 10 October 2026.
A man walks past members of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) standing guard ahead of a protest planned by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) seeking the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, near the protest site in New Delhi, India, 10 October 2026.
A Border Security Force (BSF) personnel barricades a street ahead of a protest by the youth-led Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner over alleged "special intensive revision” (SIR) voter-roll irregularities, near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 10 October 2026.
Security personnel stand guard ahead of a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest seeking the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, 10 October 2026.
Security personnel stand next to barricades ahead of a protest planned by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) seeking the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India, 9 October, 2026.
A security personnel walks past a police vehicle with Jammu and Kashmir registration plates ahead of a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest seeking the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India, 9 October, 2026.
Heavy security personnel deployed behind barricades near Vijay Chowk to halt the INDIA bloc MPs' protest march towards Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday. 9 October 2026
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA Bloc MPs raise slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during a protest at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi on Friday. 9 October 2026.
Demonstrators take part in a protest organized by opposition parties demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, 8 October, 2026.
Women supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) hold up flip-flops while protesting for women's safety in Bengaluru, India, 8 October 2026.
A woman holds a copy of the Indian Constitution as supporters of Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee take part in a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in Kolkata, India, 8 October 2026.
A woman supporter of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) holds up a flip-flop while protesting for women’s safety in Bengaluru, India, October 8, 2026. REUTERS/Priyanshu Singh
Indian social media influencer and activist Dhruv Rathee shows a SIR (Special Intensive Revision) investigation report copy to people during a protest demanding the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in Bengaluru, India, 8 October 2026.
Police detain Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, during a protest organized by opposition parties demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, 7 October, 2026.
A demonstrator jumps out of a bus window broken by detained protesters during a protest against the alleged assault of female protesters and journalists by Delhi Police and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, 4 October 2026.
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