New Delhi, July 20: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka presented their demands to Union Minister J.P. Nadda on Monday, stating that the Health Minister assured them that he would discuss the protestors’ demands “internally” with the “leadership”.

In a post on X, Das said, “After waiting for more than 2 hours, Ashutosh Ranka and I just met J.P. Nadda ji at his residence for 10 minutes. While we submitted a written letter with our demands, he has assured us that he will speak internally. We are in that process. There is news of mass detention, etc.”

Ranka also took to X and said, “Nadda ji has requested some time to align with their leadership with regards to our following demands: Immediate release of Sonam Wangchuk, Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and 1 crore compensation for all NEET aspirants who committed suicide.”

Earlier, speaking to media, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said, “Our demands are clear: Dharmendra Pradhan must resign. The families of the children who committed suicide should receive a compensation of Rs 1 crore. And Sonam Wangchuk should be released immediately.”

Tensions remained high in Delhi as the CJP and its supporters took part in the “Sansad Chalo” protest on Monday, calling for accountability from the government regarding the NEET-UG paper leak case.

As the protesters tried to advance towards Parliament House, they encountered a light police force intended to maintain law and order.

The protest has been organised to press for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak case and other examination-related irregularities, including the 12th CBSE Board, that have sparked nationwide concerns over the integrity of competitive examinations.

At Jantar Mantar, the situation turned tense as clashes broke out between police and demonstrators, with security personnel attempting to stop them from crossing barricades.

The protest witnessed a heavy security presence, with Delhi Police putting up multiple layers of barricading across the New Delhi district to control the movement of protesters. According to police officials, the protesters gathered at the protest site as crowds continued to swell.

Visuals from the spot showed hundreds of students and young protesters carrying flags and raising slogans. Many protesters were seen attempting to move beyond the barricades, following which police personnel repeatedly pushed them back to maintain order.

Police personnel were deployed in large numbers at Jantar Mantar, with a riot control vehicle also entering the protest site early on Monday. Authorities also imposed restrictions around the area as the march towards Parliament was planned by the protesters.

The police used force to stop demonstrators from crossing security barricades, and a lathi charge was also reported during the confrontation between police and protesters.

The situation remained tense as security personnel attempted to prevent protesters from moving towards restricted areas.

Police also deployed signal jammers in and around the protest area, with some protesters claiming that mobile phone connectivity was affected near the venue.

Patna, July 20: A Class 12 student was shot dead by unidentified assailants while on her way to school in Bihar Samastipur district on Monday, triggering shock and panic in the area.

The incident took place in Kejiya village under the Vaini police station limits in the morning.

According to police, the student, who studied in Class 12 at Kasturba Vidyalaya, had left home in her school uniform to attend classes when she was attacked near her residence.

The assailants allegedly fired multiple rounds at her, killing her on the spot before fleeing the scene.

Police reached the location soon after receiving information about the incident and launched an investigation.

During the preliminary examination, officers recovered four spent bullet casings from the crime scene.

Teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the District Investigation Unit (DIU) were also called in to collect forensic evidence and assist in the probe.

Preliminary findings indicate that the student may have been struck by three bullets, although officials said the exact number of gunshot injuries will be confirmed after the post-mortem examination. Her body has been sent for an autopsy.

Sadar-1 SDPO Sanjay Kumar Pandey described the incident as a heinous crime and said the investigation is being conducted on a priority basis.

He revealed that information provided by the victim’s family has helped police identify a suspect, and raids are underway to apprehend the accused.

According to the SDPO, the family has also shared important details regarding a possible motive behind the murder, and investigators are pursuing all available leads.

However, he clarified that the exact number of assailants is yet to be established and remains part of the ongoing investigation.

To ensure a swift and thorough probe, the district police are constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Officials said the investigation is being carried out using both scientific and technical evidence, with efforts focused on identifying and arresting all those involved in the killing.

Mumbai, July 20: The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Monday accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of committing an “assault on Indian democracy, freedom, and the Constitution”.

In an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the party focused on two key developments over the past two days: the early morning police action against activist Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar and the Lok Sabha Speaker’s recognition of rebel factions from the Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress.

According to the editorial, activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly removed by Delhi Police from Jantar Mantar, where he had been on the 20th day of a hunger strike demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the NEET paper leak controversy. The editorial characterised the police action as a “cowardly night operation”, stating that armed police entered the protest site after midnight like “thieves to drag away an exhausted activist who was unable to resist”.

It drew comparisons between the crackdown and an anti-terrorist combing operation, arguing that it highlighted the government’s fear of growing public support for Wangchuk.

The editorial said that despite being admitted to the hospital, Wangchuk is continuing his protest from the intensive care unit (ICU). The editorial referred to a handwritten message sent by Wangchuk to the citizens of India, “This is the Second Freedom Movement. A Fear-Free India, an Injustice-Free India!”

The editorial warned that the activist’s movement would continue to spread across the country despite government suppression.

Further, the Thackeray camp alleged that under cover of darkness, the Speaker recognised ‘defector’ factions from the Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress in direct violation of the 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which does not grant recognition to party splits.

The editorial alleged that six MPs elected under the Shiv Sena’s ‘Flaming Torch’ (Mashal) symbol were “bought for Rs 50 crore each by the Eknath Shinde faction” before seeking a merger, which was subsequently approved by the Speaker. The editorial termed this decision a direct assault on parliamentary integrity and constitutional norms.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena claimed that the Modi government survives entirely on “falsehoods, repression, and gunpoint threats”. Much like the NEET exam scam, “PM Modi and his people won the election through widespread electoral malpractices. It is no longer hidden that these leaders came to power by burning the pyres of freedom and democracy”.

“Under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, no form of party splitting is recognised. Still, BJP engineers splits in parties daily to build new outfits, and the Speaker continues to legitimise these traitorous groups. This ongoing destruction of freedom, democracy, and the Constitution by the Modi government must now be exposed on the global stage,” remarked the editorial.

The editorial asserted that the actions against the Shiv Sena, TMC, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) demonstrate an attempt to suppress opposition voices through authority and intimidation.

The editorial called for bringing the Modi government’s actions regarding Indian democracy and constitutional violations before the international community. “Just as there is no forgiveness for the thieves of the Ram Temple, there will be no forgiveness for those who legitimise traitors,” it said.