印度选民名单争议持续，“蟑螂”抗议运动创始人被拘、周六出庭，新德里紧张延续

The founder of India’s “Cockroach” protest movement is due to appear in court Saturday after being taken into police custody as a widening fight over the country’s voter rolls keeps New Delhi on edge.

Abhijeet Dipke was detained Friday, with authorities yet to disclose where he is being held. He left his residence for a planned gathering in Connaught Place as protesters continue to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a nationwide exercise that critics allege has improperly removed millions of eligible voters.

All India Students’ Association chief Neha Bora was taken into custody separately as she marched towards the area with other demonstrators. Bora was released Saturday morning.

Parts of central Delhi have witnessed demonstrations in recent days, despite heavy security and restrictions on public assembly. Roads around one of the capital’s busiest commercial districts were barricaded on Friday, while thousands of security personnel were deployed across the city, including outside metro stations.

The political tensions come as India’s strong growth story faces mounting pressure. The country remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy, but a weak rupee, foreign investment outflows and rising inflation are adding to the challenges facing the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He hasn’t publicly commented on the latest protests, though senior members of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party have defended the Election Commission. The poll body has rejected allegations of wrongdoing.

Friday’s police crackdown marks another test of authorities’ handling of the movement after thousands were detained and parts of the capital effectively locked down during demonstrations last weekend.

“They say that they follow the law and order, play by the book, they never ever go by the book,” Bora said after her release. “Which law allows this kind of illegal detention? We don’t understand.”

Read more: India Top Court Seeks Answers on Protests, Voter-Roll Purge

Both Dipke and Bora have been detained repeatedly in recent days. Friday marked Dipke’s second detention in less than a week and Bora’s third since Oct. 10.

Friday’s march was also intended to show solidarity with two other CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were jailed for five days earlier this week after crossing police barricades to enter Jantar Mantar. Authorities recently removed the site as a designated protest venue. The two were jailed on charges, including trespassing.

The youth-led movement is also drawing support from groups beyond its youth base. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a coalition of farmers’ organizations, has called for demonstrations at district and subdistrict levels on Oct. 23. Opposition parties have separately staged protests over the voter-roll revision and demanded an investigation into alleged irregularities.