PUCL Delhi Condemns Assault on Students and Attack on Book Stall at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Protest Site, Jantar Mantar
The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Delhi strongly condemns the actions of the Delhi Police against students associated with the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) at the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest site at Jantar Mantar. The incident occurred on 20 July 2026 at around 1:30 PM at a protest site operating with due permission, where students had set up a book stall for participants in the democratic agitation.
According to information received by PUCL Delhi, Delhi Police personnel attempted to dismantle the students’ book stall and threw books onto the muddy road. The sight of books being flung to the ground at a peaceful protest is deeply disturbing and reflects a profound disregard for education, knowledge, and the democratic exchange of ideas.
Video footage of the incident shows student activist Bittu being detained and taken away from the protest site. Bittu and Vishal informed PUCL Delhi that they were first taken to the police booth at Jantar Mantar, where Vishal was slapped multiple times by police personnel, before being taken to Parliament Street Police Station. They further stated that their mobile phones were seized and that they were required to furnish personal details, including their Aadhaar card and other identity documents.
The students further informed PUCL Delhi that police personnel repeatedly abused them, referring to them as “gutter ke keede” and saying that they would be “cleaned” because they were “spreading filth.” They were also threatened with “lamba bhejenge,” in an apparent attempt to intimidate them with the prospect of prolonged criminal proceedings.
Both students sustained injuries during the incident.
The actions of the Delhi Police raise serious concerns regarding the freedoms guaranteed under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution. The use of such force against peaceful student protesters, the disruption of a book stall, the detention of students, the seizure of their mobile phones, and the intimidation through verbal abuse and threats are wholly inconsistent with the constitutional obligation of the police to facilitate, rather than suppress, peaceful democratic expression.
PUCL Delhi demands:
1. An immediate, independent, and impartial inquiry into the incident.
2. The suspension of the officers responsible, pending inquiry.
3. Accountability for the assault on the students, their detention, the seizure of their mobile phones, and the destruction and desecration of books.
4. A public apology for the treatment meted out to the students and for the desecration of books at the protest site.
5. An assurance that peaceful protests at duly permitted sites will be protected and that students exercising their democratic rights will not be subjected to violence, intimidation, or arbitrary police action.
A democracy cannot fear books, or students who choose to read. PUCL Delhi believes such police action is an attack on constitutional values of free thought, education, and democratic participation in a peaceful protest.
Aruj Maji, President
TS Ahuja, General Secretary
Vertika Mani, Secretary