Student protest helpline run by Youth Congress logs over 3,000 calls
The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has said its helpline launched on July 27, 2026, to provide legal and other support to students facing harassment over their participation in protests has received more than 3,000 calls so far. The helpline was set up amid a police crackdown on student demonstrations across the country.
According to IYC leaders, the service received 1,080 calls on its first day, with 55 callers requiring immediate legal intervention. Many of the calls came from Bihar, they said. A significant number of callers were female, prompting the organisation to step up outreach efforts for women who allegedly faced targeted harassment by authorities.
The Congress party has also strongly criticised a police case registered against protester Ruchika Singh. The complaint filed with Uttar Pradesh Police alleges that her remarks at Jantar Mantar on July 23, 2026, “insulted the dignity of the Prime Minister’s Office” and were intended to “spread disharmony and disturb public peace”. The Congress has questioned the basis of the case.
In several instances, callers sought assistance not for legal matters but to reassure worried family members, particularly after reports emerged that police were using facial recognition technology and other surveillance tools to identify protesters. IYC officials said that in cases involving women subjected to sustained online trolling, the organisation was tracking abusive accounts and reporting them to the relevant platforms.
On August 2, 2026, IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib visited Bhagalpur as part of a Congress fact-finding committee constituted to examine the police response to student protests in Bihar. Speaking there, he expressed concern over students leaving their homes out of fear, adding that families do not know their whereabouts. He called for an investigation into the matter.
“They are the future of the country, and raising one’s voice for one’s rights is a democratic right. If any student faces legal action, the Youth Congress and the Congress party will stand with them,” Mr. Chib said.
The protests and subsequent police actions have drawn varied responses from political parties and civil liberties groups. The helpline’s reports of calls and legal interventions are based on statements from IYC officials; independent verification of the figures could not be obtained.
