The ongoing protests in Delhi over education sector irregularities and paper leaks escalated into violence on Monday, with visuals showing Delhi Police deploying lathi charges and tear gas against demonstrators to control the situation. Police defended the move as a necessary response to the protestors turning violent, but sections of civil society condemned it as ‘police brutality’. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap also weighed in with a sharp, if indirect, criticism of the police’s conduct.For the unversed, the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) protest over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak escalated on Monday, as a march toward Parliament turned violent, injuring over 118 police personnel, according to Delhi Police. Several protestors were also hurt, with visuals capturing clashes between demonstrators and police at multiple locations across the capital.
Anurag Kashyap’s Instagram note on the police action
Taking to Instagram on Monday evening, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap shared a note in Hindi: “Wardi pehenne ke liye aatma ka, aatmiyta ka, sabka sauda karna padta hai. Maloom nahi tha. Kya ek police wala hai is desh mein jo khada ho ke bol sake main iss Aadesh ka palan nahin karoonga kyonki ye galat hai (I didn’t know you have to sell your soul and conscience to wear a police uniform. Is there one police personnel in this country who can stand up and say I won’t follow this order because it is wrong).” Though Kashyap’s brief note made no direct mention of the CJP or the protests, it was widely understood to be a reference to the police action that allegedly left several protestors injured on Monday.
Delhi Police, protestors give conflicting versions
According to Delhi officials, protestors from the CJP displayed unruly, aggressive, and violent conduct during Monday’s demonstration in New Delhi. They allegedly ignored repeated warnings and lawful directives from the police, refusing to disperse and openly flouting the prohibitory orders in place. Protestors, on the other hand, allege that Delhi Police personnel targeted them indiscriminately, resulting in several injuries on their side too.
CJP delegation meets JP Nadda with three demands
Separately on Monday, a Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) delegation held talks with Union Health Minister JP Nadda regarding their demands, with the minister urging the protesters to call off their sit-in. CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said three demands were placed before Nadda, including Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and a compensation of ₹1 crore for the families of NEET aspirants, “more than 20 of whom have lost their lives.” He further stated that activist Sonam Wangchuk, currently hospitalised, should be “released immediately,” adding that the protest would continue until Pradhan steps down.