Delhi Students allege lathi-charge during march to Jantar Mantar amid CJP protest

Delhi Police on Monday used batons to disperse hundreds of students and youth activists attempting to march from Mandi House Metro Station to Jantar Mantar where thousands had gathered for the Cockroach Janta Partys CJP Sansad Chalo protest demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinationsThe protest coincided with the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament prompting extensive security arrangements across central DelhiStudents allege police used force to stop marchAccording to eyewitnesses police used sticks and batons to disperse protesters as they attempted to proceed towards Jantar MantarThe march included hundreds of students and youth activists many of them women who raised slogans against the Centre while moving towards the protest siteA large contingent of Delhi Police personnel was deployed in the area to prevent the procession from advancingThere was no immediate official statement from Delhi Police on the reported use of force or whether any protesters had been detainedHeavy security across central DelhiThousands of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar despite heavy rain and heightened security measures imposed across central DelhiDelhi Police barricaded roads leading to Parliament sealed the Jantar Mantar protest site from multiple directions and enforced prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSSSeveral Delhi Metro stations including Janpath Patel Chowk Rajiv Chowk Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth were closed as part of the security arrangementsPolice had earlier clarified that no permission had been granted for the proposed march to Parliament and warned that unauthorised processions would not be allowedProtesters continue to gather at Jantar MantarDespite the restrictions protesters continued to arrive at Jantar Mantar throughout the morningThe CJP shared photographs and videos on social media showing large crowds at the protest venue and posted Heavy rains and massive security but nothing will stop the cockroaches todayCJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also shared a photograph of the Constitution with the message Long live the ConstitutionThe organisation urged supporters to remain peaceful despite movement restrictions and reports of protesters being stopped at different locationsPlease remain calm wherever you might be Even if youve been stopped at certain points remain calm and maintain peace We will only win this with peace and love CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said in a message to protestersWangchuk continues hunger strike from hospitalThe protest comes as activist Sonam Wangchuk remains admitted to Safdarjung Hospital after being shifted there by Delhi Police during his indefinite hunger strikeIn a handwritten note issued from the hospital Wangchuk reiterated that he would continue his fast unless the government accepted accountability for alleged failures in the education system including paper leaks or political leaders assured him that the issue would be raised during the Monsoon Session of ParliamentHe also repeated his allegation that he was under illegal detention at Safdarjung HospitalThree AISA activists end hunger strikeMeanwhile three All India Students Association AISA activists mdash Neha Manish and Aameen mdash ended their 23day hunger strike following an appeal by a delegation of parliamentarians civil society members and other prominent individualsThe delegation urged the activists to shift their campaign from a hunger strike to parliamentary intervention and broader public outreach assuring them that their demands would be pursued during the ongoing Monsoon SessionWith inputs from PTI