Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of India's youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has reportedly been released from custody after agreeing to unspecified conditions. Dipke was initially detained following a crackdown on unauthorized protest rallies in New Delhi, where activists demanded the resignation of the country's chief election commissioner.

The ongoing demonstrations stem from widespread anger over a sweeping revision of electoral rolls, which critics claim has unfairly purged millions of minority voters to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party. While the election commission defends the process as a routine update, opposition groups and youth activists accuse the authorities of undermining democratic institutions.

The domestic unrest has drawn scrutiny from the European and American political spectrums, with several US lawmakers urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address the alleged heavy-handed police tactics and wrongful detentions during his upcoming diplomatic tour. The Western politicians allege a pattern of intimidation against dissenters in the world's largest democracy.

In a parallel development, India's Supreme Court ruled that internet access is a fundamental right for all individuals, including children. The judiciary pushed back against blanket online bans, asserting that restricting digital access fails to protect minors and instead deprives remote and vulnerable groups of essential learning platforms.

Source: www.dw.com