Saurabh Mukherjee
Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel used lathis to disperse protesters at Jantar Mantar on Monday (July 20), who were demanding action over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak.
The demonstration, organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has been continuing for weeks, with protesters seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protest was being led by activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was taken into custody by the police on the 21st day of his hunger strike. He is currently receiving treatment at Safdarjung Hospital.
Security forces had earlier sealed off the protest area to stop demonstrators from marching towards Parliament. Barricades were put up and hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel, along with water cannons, were deployed in the area.
Around 70 protesters have been detained, according to the authorities. Police said legal proceedings were being initiated and an FIR would be registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other applicable laws in connection with allegations of rioting, assault on public servants, damage to public property and other offences during the protest.
The Delhi Police claimed crowd-control measures were used after the demonstration witnessed incidents of violence, including stone-pelting.
Speaking to ANI, Madhur Verma, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Joint CP) for the Central Range, said the protesters' march towards Parliament violated prohibitory orders in force and turned the gathering into an unauthorised assembly requiring police intervention.
"There was an unlawful assembly that had to be dealt with; there were some incidents of stone-pelting, and the Delhi Police have detained some protesters. Appropriate action is being taken," he told ANI.
In a post on X, Ranka said the CJP had raised three key demands — the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Rs 1 crore compensation for every NEET-UG 2026 aspirant who died by suicide.
Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, meanwhile, criticised the Centre's response to the protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. She said the government had "failed miserably" to respond to the aspirations of young people and asserted that "force cannot suppress a nationwide youth movement."
According to the latest health update, Wangchuk remains under treatment at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, where his vital parameters are stable. His blood sugar levels continue to remain on the lower side, while other blood parameters have improved following oral rehydration therapy (ORS) and Syrup Potassium supplementation.
He is being closely monitored by a multidisciplinary team of specialists from VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS, New Delhi.
Doctors have stressed the need for continuous clinical observation as he recovers from mild to moderate dehydration and to ensure any potential complications are identified and treated at the earliest. Meanwhile, all necessary medical care is being provided as his condition remains under close medical supervision.
The demonstration, organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has been continuing for weeks, with protesters seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protest was being led by activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was taken into custody by the police on the 21st day of his hunger strike. He is currently receiving treatment at Safdarjung Hospital.
Security forces had earlier sealed off the protest area to stop demonstrators from marching towards Parliament. Barricades were put up and hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel, along with water cannons, were deployed in the area.
Around 70 protesters have been detained, according to the authorities. Police said legal proceedings were being initiated and an FIR would be registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other applicable laws in connection with allegations of rioting, assault on public servants, damage to public property and other offences during the protest.
The Delhi Police claimed crowd-control measures were used after the demonstration witnessed incidents of violence, including stone-pelting.
Speaking to ANI, Madhur Verma, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Joint CP) for the Central Range, said the protesters' march towards Parliament violated prohibitory orders in force and turned the gathering into an unauthorised assembly requiring police intervention.
"There was an unlawful assembly that had to be dealt with; there were some incidents of stone-pelting, and the Delhi Police have detained some protesters. Appropriate action is being taken," he told ANI.
In a post on X, Ranka said the CJP had raised three key demands — the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Rs 1 crore compensation for every NEET-UG 2026 aspirant who died by suicide.
Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, meanwhile, criticised the Centre's response to the protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. She said the government had "failed miserably" to respond to the aspirations of young people and asserted that "force cannot suppress a nationwide youth movement."
According to the latest health update, Wangchuk remains under treatment at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, where his vital parameters are stable. His blood sugar levels continue to remain on the lower side, while other blood parameters have improved following oral rehydration therapy (ORS) and Syrup Potassium supplementation.
He is being closely monitored by a multidisciplinary team of specialists from VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS, New Delhi.
Doctors have stressed the need for continuous clinical observation as he recovers from mild to moderate dehydration and to ensure any potential complications are identified and treated at the earliest. Meanwhile, all necessary medical care is being provided as his condition remains under close medical supervision.
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