Protesters Face Police Summons and Threats Despite Government Assurances, Says Legal Aid Member
Days after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) called off its agitation at Jantar Mantar over alleged NEET exam irregularities, police summonses and harassment of protesters have continued, according to Rishav Ranjan, a member of the Congress party’s legal cell involved in providing legal aid.
What Happened
Despite assurances given by Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh during a July 25 meeting with a two-member CJP delegation, demonstrators were still being summoned by Delhi Police through Thursday afternoon, July 30, 2026, to explain their presence at the protest site. While the Delhi government issued an order later that day withdrawing all cases against protesters demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, legal representatives report that enforcement remains inconsistent and police actions persist.
Key Highlights
- Police Summons: Protesters were brought to Parliament Street police station for questioning as late as July 30 without prior notice.
- Helpline Reports: A dedicated legal helpline received 300 calls, including 50 calls from young women reporting rape and death threats for participating in the agitation.
- Facial Recognition Systems: Legal aid volunteers expressed apprehension that detentions and summonses are relying on footage captured by Facial Recognition System (FRS) cameras installed at Jantar Mantar.
- Arbitrary Action: Three individuals from Haryana were brought to Parliament Street police station on Thursday; one was blindfolded and only released near the Karnal by-pass around 3:30 PM following legal intervention.
- Incomplete Releases: Although minors were released from Bhagalpur in Bihar and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on July 29 night, several other juveniles remain in custody.
Why This Matters
The development highlights significant gaps between central government assurances and police actions on the ground. According to Mr. Ranjan, who is working in tandem with the CJP legal team and independent lawyers, the withdrawal of FIRs has proven effective primarily in Bihar while ongoing action continues elsewhere. Protesters face ongoing online intimidation from right-wing influencers circulating lists of participants, utilizing the Supreme Court’s permission to investigate existing FIRs as a cover for arbitrary actions.
What to Watch Next
Legal teams plan to bring these incidents, including evidence of online harassment and non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s July 28 directives protecting student protesters without criminal antecedents, directly to the Supreme Court. A delegation also intends to meet with the Delhi Police Commissioner to seek formal FIRs and protection for women targeted following the demonstrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were protesters demonstrating at Jantar Mantar?
Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) held a protest march near Parliament House demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged NEET exam irregularities.
What did the Supreme Court order regarding the detained protesters?
On July 28, the Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of all detained minors and restrained police from taking coercive action against student protesters without criminal antecedents, while permitting investigation of existing FIRs to proceed.
Source: Based on report by The Hindu.