Cockroach Janta Party Protest Fallout

The Cockroach Janta Party protest crackdown from earlier this month is now facing serious scrutiny, with the Supreme Court indicating it may order a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into allegations of police excesses.

During Wednesday’s hearing, the bench said whoever is found responsible for overstepping their authority must be held accountable.

The case relates to the July 20 crackdown at Jantar Mantar, where thousands had gathered under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over a series of NEET exam paper leaks.

Delhi Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd that day, and nearly 180 people, both protesters and security personnel were injured. New evidence has since emerged that contradicts the police’s initial account of events.

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A general diary entry registered at Parliament Street police station shows that the Rapid Action Force was instructed to fire pellet guns at protesters on the direct orders of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, something officials had previously denied.

At least two people struck by pellets required hospital treatment, including a 19-year-old who now risks losing vision in one eye.

Pradhan resigned from his post on July 25 as the CJP protest grew, with the government accepting most of the movement’s demands. However, questions around police accountability and compensation for victims remain unresolved, keeping the matter before the courts even after the demonstrations themselves wound down.

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