Sheikh Irshad Mansoori, an accounts manager from Gurugram, was severely injured by pellets during a protest in Central Delhi on July 20. He underwent surgery at Lady Hardinge Hospital to remove pellets from his face and neck, sustaining injuries near vital structures. The Delhi Police denied using pellet guns, while other protesters, including a 10-year-old boy, also suffered serious injuries during the demonstrations against alleged exam irregularities.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Monday announced a nationwide campaign to improve government schools in villages, calling on parents to conduct social audits of basic facilities and sarpanches to take up the task of improving the institutions.
The Cockroach Janta Party on Sunday demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the alleged assault that led to the death of Janab Mafik, the father of CJP volunteer Shaik Abdul Hafeez, in West Bengal.
The first thought Ajay Duggal had when he saw his nephew, his eyes shut, his face, neck and chest pockmarked with tiny red perforations, was this: "What if the 19-year-old loses his sight completely." Sahil Lochab was allegedly hit by a pellet gun in his right eye during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in Delhi on June 20. His uncle asked him what he could see from the eye. The reply chilled him - there was nothing. No blur, no haze, only darkness.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday urged its supporters to gather at the Jantar Mantar in large numbers ahead of its proposed 'Sansad Chalo' march on Monday, claiming that there could be a police crackdown on the protest.
'After more than 12 years in power, he has been forced to retreat under public pressure. The education minister's resignation is the biggest political climbdown of his government so far.'
'I had this fear that, dinner table talks would result in brainwashing youngsters as parents talk toxic communal news. But I'm so glad to realise that at least some section of youngsters depend on their own channels to more know more about political developments.'
The Indian government has confirmed its readiness for a Lok Sabha debate on the ongoing student protests and police action, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah set to address the concerns, particularly those related to the NEET paper leak issue.
The Congress party has strongly criticised the BJP government following allegations that AK-47 rifles were used against protesting students in Bihar, with Rahul Gandhi demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's apology and action against those responsible for the 'deadly attacks and brutality'.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to students for alleged police brutality and resign along with Home Minister Amit Shah. Gandhi criticised the government's handling of student protests concerning the education and testing system, highlighting the use of force against demonstrators near Parliament.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi staged a six-hour dharna at a police station in New Delhi, demanding an FIR for 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, who sustained pellet gun injuries during a July 20 protest. The FIR was registered after Gandhi's protest, with the BJP criticising his actions as 'politics of anarchy'.
The Indian Parliament remains deadlocked as the Opposition, led by the Congress, insists on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to discussions on alleged donation theft at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and student protests, rejecting the government's offer for Home Minister Amit Shah to respond.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)'s protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding accountability for alleged examination irregularities, has entered its 15th day, garnering support from AAP MP Sanjay Singh and CPI(M) MP John Brittas. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk continues his hunger strike, while a student leader from AISA was hospitalised after her condition turned critical.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has stated he will end his indefinite hunger strike if the Centre provides an unequivocal assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action will be taken against students and youth who participated in protests against alleged examination irregularities.
'I thought this generation was no good, will not be able to do much with all this social media etc. But then, they surprised us.'
The Supreme Court has stated that a complete ban on pellet guns is not possible as long as existing advisories permit their use for crowd control in exceptional circumstances by security agencies. However, the court clarified that allegations of specific misuse can be examined on a case-by-case basis, particularly in light of recent protests against the NEET paper leak.
Meta's global team met with top Indian IT Ministry officials following government summons regarding the temporary restriction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook post and ongoing concerns about child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on its platforms.
The Indian government has summoned Meta's global head of public policy after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook post, addressing youth and promising action against paper leaks, was temporarily removed. Meta attributed the removal to a 'glitch' in its automated content filters, an explanation the government deems insufficient, demanding further discussions.
Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, have strongly criticised the BJP for felicitating former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who resigned following student protests over the NEET exam controversy. They have also dismissed the government's proposed anti-paper leak legislation as a 'cosmetic Bill' and questioned the sincerity of education reforms.
The Congress-led Opposition is set to keep the pressure on the government in Parliament over the alleged police brutality against protesting students, demanding action against those responsible for the assault and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said on Sunday.
The protest at Jantar Mantar against alleged paper leaks and irregularities in public examinations, initially led by students, has now entered its seventh week and is increasingly drawing support from senior citizens, who view it as a fight for the nation's future and education reforms.
Nationwide protests against the NEET paper leak have intensified across several Indian states, with demonstrators condemning the Delhi Police crackdown and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Congress party has called for further demonstrations, while various student and political groups have organised marches and sit-ins, some leading to clashes with police.
The spiralling agitation over the NEET issue saw protests and counter-protests by Congress and BJP across the country on Wednesday, with clashes and tense face-offs at many places, a day after Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders were forcibly removed from a dharna outside the prime minister's residence.
India is set to introduce a new amendment to its anti-paper leak law in the Lok Sabha, aiming to establish fast-track courts across all states and union territories for swift trials and significantly harsher penalties for exam malpractices, including jail terms of 5 to 10 years and fines up to Rs 50 lakh for individuals, and up to Rs 10 crore for organised crimes.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk emphasised the enduring relevance of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent resistance, stating, "His path is as relevant today as it was 100 years ago. This experiment is successful today."
Opposition leaders have sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to 'forgive' young protesters who used abusive language, accusing him of deflecting from issues of alleged police action and a 'broken education system'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has affirmed strong action against NEET paper leak culprits and urged state governments to collaborate with the Centre to prevent future incidents, emphasising national interest over party politics. He highlighted the successful re-examination and arrests made.
The Indian government and opposition are preparing for a contentious Monsoon Session of Parliament, with key issues including the Constitution Amendment Bill on delimitation and women's reservation, the alleged NEET paper leak, and a row over Ram temple donations set to spark heated debates.
'Whatever is happening is wrong. Why is the government sleeping? This is wrong.'
The Supreme Court has clarified that 'criminal antecedents' for NEET paper leak protesters refer only to grave and heinous offences, allowing state governments to withdraw FIRs against students not involved in such serious crimes. This comes after the Centre's commitment to not pursue cases against most protesting students.
A police investigation into the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar revealed that over 980 of the 2,873 scrutinised individuals had previous criminal records. These included serious charges such as murder, attempt to murder, robbery, rape, kidnapping, and violations of the Arms Act and NDPS Act. The verification exercise was initiated following clashes during the 'Chalo Sansad' protest on July 20, which left many protestors and police personnel injured.
Young students are diverting their personal savings, originally intended for gadgets or college expenses, to fund their participation in the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar, highlighting their commitment to issues affecting their future.
Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has criticised the collegium system for its lack of transparency in judicial appointments, specifically the absence of stated reasons for elevations. He argues that this opacity allows unsuitable candidates, who may hold unconstitutional views, to enter the judiciary, citing recent controversial remarks by a High Court judge.
'We looked up and there was a man dressed as Mahatma Gandhi walking with the protesters under Minto Bridge. Everyone burst into laughter. Almost instinctively, we shouted, 'Bapu ki jai ho!' It's one of those moments I'll never forget.'
Delhi Police are intensifying their investigation into the alleged violence during the ongoing CJP protest, analysing CCTV footage, drone videos, mobile phone recordings, and other digital evidence to identify those involved in attacks on security personnel and damage to public property, with a focus on whether 'outsiders' and 'habitual offenders' infiltrated the demonstrations.
After six days of stalemate, a discussion on the anti-paper leak bill began on Tuesday in Lok Sabha with the government describing it as a reaffirmation of ruling dispensation's commitment to safeguard the welfare of students but opposition hit back over the lathi-charge on protesters, saying every blow on them hurt the government's prestige more than the backs of the youth.
'It could be in IT, it could be in administration, it could be in legal, it could be in technical services, but entry level jobs are rapidly disappearing because AI is taking them over.' 'So, the big question what would happen if the bottom rung of the ladder is removed?'
How did a melancholic Kishore Kumar classic from 1964, remixed decades later, become the unlikely soundtrack to a Gen Z protest?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has strongly refuted a video circulating on social media that falsely claims the NEET-UG 2026 paper was leaked, asserting that the recent re-examination was conducted successfully with comprehensive security measures.
'For the rest of his tenure, people will start with the assumption that even Modi can be forced to bow down'
