The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday warned of renewed protests across the country if all FIRs against student protesters are not “immediately” withdrawn and students detained by the police are not released.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, in a post on X, tagged Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh and urged them to act immediately on the agreed-upon demands of the CJP protesters.
The CJP called off its month-long protest on Saturday after the government agreed to all their demands and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post. In his post, Ranka raised concerns about reports that student protesters were being detained or arrested in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar despite the Centre’s assurance that no punitive action would be taken against them.
“We are observing a complete breach of the agreement regarding no police action against the protestors. Hundreds of students have been arrested in Bihar and Bengal, and hundreds are being surveilled/harrassed in Delhi and other states. Multiple reports are emerging in Delhi around detention of volunteers supporting protestors with logistics,” Ranka wrote.
The CJP leader demanded that all FIRs against the protesters be withdrawn and those in detention be released immediately. He further warned of another protest if the government fails to ensure the implementation of their promises made to the CJP delegation during their talks.
“We demand that all the FIRs against the protestors be immediately withdrawn, students be released and no future FIRs be filed (in line with our agreement) by Delhi police / Central investigative agencies / Police in BJP-allied states, FAILING WHICH WE WILL BE FORCED TO SIT ON PROTEST AGAIN,” he added.
Earlier in the day, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das also raised concerns over the detention of the student protesters in Bengal, Bihar, Assam and Delhi, urging the Centre to “honour the assurance” given during the negotiations. The CJP said the Centre had committed to provide a written guarantee on the issue by Tuesday and reminded it to honour that commitment.
“Our decision to suspend the nationwide protest was taken in good faith and solely on the basis of the government”s assurance that it would stand by its word. Any departure from that assurance would not merely amount to a breach of trust with the Cockroach Janta Party but would also be a breach of public trust with lakhs of young Indians who chose dialogue over protests,” Das said.
FIRs In Delhi Yet To Be Withdrawn
At least 20 FIRs were filed in Delhi in connection with violence during CJP’s “Sansad Chalo” march. The police had to use tear gas shells and lathi-charge the protesters to disperse them. CRPF has also acknowledged the use of pellet guns by RAF personnel and has also initiated an inquiry into the incident.
However, the Delhi police is reportedly yet to receive an official order from the government to withdraw the cases. Of these 20 cases, 14 have been linked to the July 20 protest and the subsequent violence. One case has been filed to probe the usage of drones to record the protest at the Jantar Mantar and nearby areas.
The cases will be withdrawn once the Delhi police receives an order from the concerned authorities. The police will then send a proposal to Delhi LG, apprising him that no legal action will be further pursued in the cases. After LG’s assent, the police will inform the concerned courts that they do not wish to continue with the prosecution.
Kolkata Police Arrest 2 More Over NEET Protest
Two more people have been arrested in Kolkata on Monday in connection with the violence during the protest against the NEET paper leak on July 24. A total of 16 people have been arrested so far. The two arrested have been identified as 35-year-old Wakar Azam and 32-year-old Javed Akhtar. Investigators alleged that both had actively participated in the violence and vandalism during Friday’s protest march.
The state government has claimed that at least 70 people identified in connection with the violence were neither students nor members of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), and had no direct link with the movement against the alleged NEET paper leak. A total of seven FIRs have been registered at Hare Street and Entally police stations in connection with the violence.
“The investigation is being carried out in a fair and impartial manner. We are identifying every individual who was involved in vandalism, assault or damage to public property. No one found responsible will be spared, irrespective of affiliation,” a police officer said, as quoted by PTI.
AK-47 Fired On Protesters In Bihar
A constable has been suspended in Bihar’s Siwan after a video of him firing an AK-47 assault rifle on the protesters on July 25. “The constable, posted with the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), has been suspended with immediate effect after a video purportedly showing him using an AK-47 rifle during a student protest went viral on social media. Departmental proceedings have also been initiated against him,” Siwan SP Puran Kumar Jha said.
Bihar witnessed widespread violence during students’ protests over NEET paper leak. The protesters clashed with police in several districts, including Patna, Saran, Siwan, Aurangabad, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Purnia and Bhojpur, while Samastipur, Nawada, Nalanda, Madhubani and Sheikhpura witnessed mild protests.
According to a report by ,at least 24 FIRs have been filed in Patna in connection with the protests on July 22 and July 25, while more than 250 persons have been arrested, including Lalu Yadav’s son Tej Pratap Yadav. 285 people have been named as accused in the FIRs filed, while cases have also been filed against approximately 6,000 unidentified rioters.