More than 118 police personnel, including several senior officers, were injured and around 70 protesters were detained on Monday, July 20, 2026, as the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) “Sansad Chalo” protest march turned violent in the New Delhi area. The march, which coincided with the opening day of the Monsoon Session, saw tens of thousands of students, parents, teachers, and professionals gather from early morning at Jantar Mantar, a 300-year-old observatory in central Delhi. Despite heavy rain and the fact that police had made clear protesters would not be given permission to march to Parliament, the demonstration proceeded.
Delhi Police Accuse Cockroach Janta Party Protesters of Violence
The Delhi Police released a statement accusing protesters of displaying unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour
and attacking security personnel, damaging government vehicles, and destroying public property. “During today’s protest by CJP in the New Delhi area, the protesters displayed unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour. Despite repeated warnings and lawful directions issued by the police, they refused to disperse and deliberately violated the prohibitory orders in force,” the police statement read. The force stated that demonstrators broke through barricades and attacked personnel with stones and other objects.
Injuries Sustained by Senior Police Officers and Government Vehicles Vandalized
According to the police, the injured included senior officers of the ranks of Special Commissioner of Police, Joint Commissioner of Police, Additional Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, and Assistant Commissioner of Police, as well as several women personnel. Police sources also reported that 15 to 20 government vehicles were vandalized. The police have initiated the process of registering FIRs under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rioting, assault on public servants, and damage to public property, with medico-legal examinations of the injured officers currently underway.
The account offered by the police was described as the “mirror image” of the one being told by protesters, volunteers, and opposition leaders. Protesters and independent observers claimed the injuries flowed the other way, noting that police used canes and tear gas to disperse the crowd. A volunteer doctor at Jantar Mantar reported treating at least ten people, including a man with a bleeding head wound and a woman with a suspected broken leg. According to other sources, at least 38 of the injured were taken to the Lady Hardinge Medical College and around 65 to the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, suffering from fractures, swelling due to tear gas, and head and eye injuries.
Internet Shutdown and Detention of Protesters in New Delhi District
Amid the clashes, an internet shutdown was implemented in the New Delhi district. Police sources told the news agency PTI that more than 100 protesters were detained from different locations, including Parliament Street, Patel Chowk, Constitution Club, Shastri Bhawan, and adjoining areas, and shifted to different police stations and temporary detention centres. A senior officer told PTI that the police claimed the detained protesters were not students and that their identities were being verified. The officer added that the investigation has been intensified and teams are examining video footage, CCTV recordings, and other evidence to identify those involved in the violence.
While the clashes unfolded, CJP representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka met with Union Minister J.P. Nadda to formally seek the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities. Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka stated that Mr. Nadda told them he would discuss the demands with the government. However, Mr. Das noted in the evening that the CJP was still waiting for a response and that the protest was continuing at Jantar Mantar. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, observing the brutality with which peacefully protesting youth are being dealt with,
announced he would continue fasting until the youth leaders were allowed to meet parliamentarians at the Sansad Bhawan or he was allowed to meet them at the hospital.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi condemned the police action, writing on X: When these children raised legitimate questions about education — they were met with lathis and detention in response… The criminals who leaked the papers roam free…
As of Monday night, officials stated they were investigating the motive behind the clashes and indicated that outer side angles
would be probed, with the police force maintaining that those responsible for attacking security personnel and damaging property would face strict legal action.
Sources: business-standard.com, thehindu.com.
Worth a look
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.