Delhi Lockdown: Thousands of Security Forces Deployed as 'Cockroach' Protest Threatens Capital

Thousands of security personnel were deployed across Delhi on Thursday as authorities moved to prevent a planned 'cockroach' protest from gathering in the capital. Several trains to Delhi were cancelled and dozens of metro stations were shut, while Section 144 was imposed in parts of the city, banning large gatherings. The protest, named after a derogatory term used by some government supporters for demonstrators, is part of ongoing opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The measures come amid heightened tensions over the CAA, which fast-tracks citizenship for non-Muslim minorities from neighbouring countries, and the NRC, which critics fear could render millions of Muslims stateless. Delhi Police said the restrictions were necessary to maintain law and order, but protest organisers accused the government of stifling dissent. 'We will not be silenced by barricades,' said a student leader involved in the protests. 'The cockroach will not be crushed.'

The crackdown has drawn international criticism, with human rights groups condemning the use of force and arbitrary detentions. The Indian government has defended its actions, stating that protests must be peaceful and within the law. With the situation remaining volatile, further protests are expected in other cities, and the government's handling of the unrest is likely to be a key issue in upcoming parliamentary debates.