The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by M.K. Stalin, has demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an inquiry into his conduct. At a parliamentary party meeting in Chennai on October 17, 2026, the party passed resolutions opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that eligible voters risk being excluded. The DMK also extended support to student-led protests and called for replacing electronic voting machines (EVMs) with paper ballots. The party plans to petition President Droupadi Murmu, seeking electoral reforms and the complete cancellation of the SIR exercise. (PC: The Hindu)

Environmental activist Surendra Singh Choudhary, popularly known as Bittu Tabahi, faced another setback after installing two dustbins along the Ajnar River in Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district. The 20-year-old had placed them to encourage responsible waste disposal after repeatedly cleaning the polluted river. However, when he returned, one dustbin was missing, leaving him disappointed. Despite months of cleanup efforts, plastic bags and other rubbish have begun accumulating along the riverbanks again. The incident sparked social media criticism, with users demanding fines for littering, police intervention and better security to protect public facilities. (PC: X)

At least eight people were killed and 15 injured after a minibus carrying around 23 passengers plunged into a 15-foot-deep drain on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan’s Kota district on October 17, 2026. The accident occurred near pole number 384 under Simliya police station limits at approximately 6 am. The passengers, mostly from Madhya Pradesh, were travelling to Rajasthan’s Khatu Shyamji temple for a pilgrimage. Authorities suspect driver fatigue may have caused the vehicle to veer off the road. Rescue teams used cranes to retrieve the damaged vehicle, while the injured were taken to hospitals in Kota. (PC: PTI)

Delhi Police placed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke under preventive arrest on October 16, 2026, citing concerns about a possible breach of peace ahead of the planned ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest at Connaught Place. Police initiated action against Dipke under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and he was scheduled to appear before a Special Executive Magistrate. All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora, detained during the protests, was released after completing the required formalities. The demonstrations demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and opposed the voter-list revision exercise. 

All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was released on October 17, 2026, after being detained by Delhi Police ahead of the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest march at Connaught Place. Bora criticised the police, alleging that ordinary citizens were being treated like hardened criminals. She also claimed that officers delayed her access to legal counsel during detention. Meanwhile, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was arrested under preventive provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and was scheduled to appear before a Special Executive Magistrate court. The protest demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and opposed the voter-list revision exercise. (PC: ANI)

Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke ahead of the organisation’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place on Friday. Security was tightened as police prevented the protest from proceeding. Dipke was taken into custody shortly before 5 pm after a brief altercation, following hours of police personnel making him sign documents prohibiting him from marching towards the protest site without lawful permission. He had stepped out of NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Anish Gawande’s Karol Bagh residence wearing a Gandhi-printed T-shirt and carrying the Indian flag. Opposition leaders, including MK Stalin, demanded the release of detained leaders and criticised the government. (PC: X)

Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora as thousands gathered for the party’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place on Friday. An estimated 2,000 people assembled in and around the area, many carrying the Tricolour. More than 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across New Delhi district. Heavy security and advance detentions helped the protest conclude relatively peacefully, unlike the July 20 march towards Parliament, when demonstrators clashed with police. The CJP had called the latest protest seeking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Participants attempted to march towards Central Park before police intervened. (PC: Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has alleged that Delhi Police took its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, to an undisclosed location and that the party has since lost contact with him. In a post on X, the party claimed Dipke was not being allowed to speak to lawyers and questioned the police about his whereabouts. It also asked why young people were being treated like terrorists, asserting that they were entitled to constitutional rights and protections. “Abhijeet was just walking out of his home with a Tiranga in his hand! How can walking with a Tiranga be a crime?” the party said, demanding that Delhi Police disclose where Dipke had been taken.

The Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest in Delhi took a dramatic turn as founder Abhijeet Dipke and AISA President Neha Bora were taken into preventive custody ahead of the planned march at Connaught Place’s Central Park. The development comes ahead of the demonstration, drawing attention to the planned protest and the preventive action against its organisers. The march, organised under the banner of CJP’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ campaign, was scheduled to take place at the prominent Central Park location. The preventive custody of Dipke and Bora marks a significant development in the lead-up to the planned demonstration in the national capital. (PC: Bhaskar English) 

Delhi Police visited Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke’s residence on October 16, 2026, and served him a notice against holding the proposed Tiranga march at Connaught Place. The party had called for a gathering at Central Park to protest alleged voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal. Police cited prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, concerns over public safety, traffic congestion and disruption to businesses. Central Park was closed, and authorities tightened security ahead of the planned demonstration.