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 the gathering and all roads leading to Jantar Mantar, the main protest venue, have been closed 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, metal barricades and ropes have been erected around the protest site, preventing people from entering. Some protesters who arrived early were stopped and questioned by police and paramilitary personnel deployed in the area.

At a nearby roundabout, loudspeakers repeatedly broadcast appeals for people to cooperate with the police.

In a late night post on X, Delhi Police on Friday 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.