Thousands of protesters marched in Delhi as part of the 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP) movement, a youth-led mobilization demanding educational reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement, which began over a month ago, is connected to the NEET paper leak. CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke has been central to organizing the protests, which drew tens of thousands of young people. PBS NewsHour described it as a 'Gen Z' movement PBS NewsHour.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk's fast became a rallying point for the protests, and on July 20, 2026, CJP marchers advanced toward Parliament The Independent. Security forces met them with force. Delhi Police deployed pellet guns, shock batons, lathi charges, and tear gas shells. At least 80 protesters were injured The Hindu. Delhi Police stated that nearly 180 people in total were injured in the clashes, including 60 protesters and 118 security and police personnel Al Jazeera.

Delhi Police officially denied using pellet guns and shock batons, calling reports 'completely false and misleading' Rediff. However, BBC Verify analyzed videos showing security officers firing pellet guns toward protesters BBC. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which also faced questions, told Indian media it was premature to comment and that it was looking into events. The Indian Express reported that three people were treated for pellet injuries during the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar and that the CRPF launched a probe Indian Express.

Injuries from the police action were severe. Shaikh Irshad Mansoori, a 25-year-old resident of Gurugram, sustained pellet gun injuries. A 19-year-old protester may lose vision in their right eye, according to their family The Hindu. A 28-year-old sports journalist who joined the protest had 30 pellets lodged in their body and was seeking compensation Indian Express.

Opposition leaders seized on the violence. Rahul Gandhi displayed a protester's pellet gun injuries to the media and accused the Centre of lying about pellet gun use against protesters, saying, 'Stop assaulting our students' The Hindu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed 'strict action' amid the cockroach protests The Independent.

The broader context here is a standoff between a state deploying crowd-control methods typically reserved for restive border regions and a generation that has organized outside traditional party structures. Sona Bisht, a 20-year-old student, told the Associated Press: 'If the government thinks that doing this with Gen Z can stop us, then that won't happen' PBS NewsHour. The CJP's demands center on the NEET paper leak, a scandal that has undercut the credibility of India's medical entrance examination system. By demanding Pradhan's resignation, protesters are tying systemic examination failures directly to political accountability.

The use of pellet guns in Delhi is a notable escalation. The verified footage analyzed by BBC Verify contradicts the Delhi Police's official denial. The CRPF's deferral to an ongoing probe leaves the government's position in tension with documented evidence. The presence of injured journalists and minors among the wounded raises the stakes for the CRPF's internal review.

For now, the movement has shown capacity to mobilize tens of thousands and sustain pressure over weeks. The government's response, combining a vow of 'strict action' with forceful crowd control and official denials, suggests a hardening line. Whether the CRPF probe acknowledges the pellet gun use documented by BBC Verify will indicate how the state intends to manage both the protests and the narrative surrounding them.