India's Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) reported on Thursday that authorities have detained approximately 10,000 of its members and supporters nationwide. The detentions occur as thousands of CJP supporters and student activists continue protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

These demonstrations are building momentum ahead of a larger CJP-led anti-government protest scheduled for Saturday in New Delhi. The planned march aims to converge at Jantar Mantar, a well-known site for public demonstrations in the capital.

Ashutosh Ranka, a CJP spokesperson, stated via a social media post that the detained individuals include members from the CJP, affiliated student organizations, grassroots groups, and political parties. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show activists being taken into custody. CJP national spokesman Deepak Baliyan was among those reportedly arrested.

The core of the protest centers on a recent revision of India's voter lists, which the CJP and allied opposition parties allege has been manipulated. They accuse the Election Commission, headed by Kumar, of actions that favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Concerns have been amplified by the Election Commission's removal of over 130 million names from voter rolls, with millions more facing appeals. Protesters argue that these revisions disproportionately affect voters likely to support opposition parties, while potentially benefiting Modi's party. The Election Commission and the government maintain that the revision process is aimed at removing duplicate and ineligible entries, with no political bias.

Earlier on Thursday, thousands of CJP youth movement supporters gathered in Bengaluru, holding signs that read "Every name counts, Every vote matters" and "Stop the Murder of Democracy."

Among those reportedly detained were a group of students from Pune who were en route to New Delhi to join the protests at Jantar Mantar. According to CJP statements, these students were taken by bus to an undisclosed location.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke expressed strong criticism regarding the detentions, questioning the government's actions in response to the growing dissent.