Indian Police Tear-Gas Nationwide Protests Over Election Chief

Indian police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse opposition protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with demonstrations reported in at least a dozen states. Congress and other opposition groups accuse the Election Commission of changing voter rolls to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP, allegations the commission and BJP deny; the commission says its decisions followed the law. The protests intensified after a media report said other election officials had questioned Kumar over electoral-roll changes, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi renewed his call for Kumar to step down. The youth-led “Cockroach” movement has threatened nationwide protests on October 2 if Kumar does not resign by its deadline.