Maharashtra students at Jantar Mantar allege police used water cannons, cut supplies
A protest by a group calling itself the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in Delhi turned tense on Monday, with participants from Maharashtra alleging excessive use of force by security personnel. Over 650 students from the state were present, many on hunger strike.
Protesters claimed that Delhi Police and state agencies used water cannons to disperse the crowd in the early hours. They also alleged that food and water supplies were deliberately stopped, leaving demonstrators without essential provisions for several hours.
“Security personnel used water cannons to disperse the crowd. Food and water supplies were deliberately stopped,” said one protester from Maharashtra.
Budhiraj Torne, a student from Mumbai University, alleged that the police cut off drinking water and stopped supplies sent by supporters. He also reported internet disruptions and a lathicharge. “Government messages are popping up on phones, WhatsApp is not working, and Meta is not letting us post on Instagram,” Torne said. He added that women and minors were injured in the lathicharge.
The protest was held in support of the CJP, a fringe political group. The allegations have not been independently verified. Delhi Police have not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.
