Parts of the Indian capital, Delhi, have been turned into a fortress, with tens of thousands of security forces deployed, as the influential 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.
The Election Commission has denied this and Kumar is yet to comment on calls for his resignation.
The protest comes just months after the movement brought thousands of young people onto Delhi’s streets in July, in demonstrations that saw violent clashes with police and forced India’s education minister to resign.
Police say they have denied permission for Saturday’s gathering, and all roads leading to Jantar Mantar, the main protest venue, have been closed off with huge metal barricades.
The restrictions have caused major disruption across central Delhi, with traffic diverted from several key roads. A journey that would normally take 15 minutes took more than an hour this morning.
At Jantar Mantar, police and paramilitary personnel are stationed behind barricades and ropes, preventing people from entering the protest site. Drones could be seen flying overhead.
Some protesters who arrived early were stopped and questioned by security personnel. The BBC also saw at least five people being detained near the site.
Journalists covering the protest have been cordoned off into a designated area nearby.
At a nearby roundabout, loudspeakers repeatedly broadcast appeals for people to cooperate with the police.
Delhi Police has defended the measures, saying they were necessary to maintain public safety and prevent overcrowding at Jantar Mantar, which can accommodate only 1,000 people at a time.