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From slaps, social media ridicule to threats: Police brutality under fire amid CJP protests

By Samira Vishwas

The role of police during ongoing youth protests over alleged NEET examination irregularities has faced growing scrutiny. While the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, claimed that during his June 21 detention, some officers privately urged ousting the Modi government, expressing sympathy for protesting students. However, other policemen made headlines for starkly different behaviour, treating demonstrators with notably less compassion.

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One of them is Sandeep Lamba. The additional deputy commissioner of police (north-east district) in Delhi was seen slapping a woman protester during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) “Chalo Sansad” protest march on Monday (July 20) demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He was consequently shunted out from the protest site in Jantar Mantar.

Former TMC MP complains against Lamba

Former Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale took exception to the matter and said he filed a police complaint against the senior police officer. The leader, who also filed a special procedures complaint with the United Nations against the alleged police brutality against the protesters, said in a post on X, “I have filed a complaint with the SHO, Parliament Street Police Station, for registration of an FIR against Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba who assaulted a woman protestor at Jantar Mantar on 20 July 2026. Yesterday, in the Delhi High Court, the Government’s answer to the petitions on police brutality was that nobody had approached the police for an FIR.

So today, I filed a police complaint.

Every single police officer who illegally assaulted peaceful protestors must be brought to justice. Not one of them should be spared.“

Lamba’s name surfaced during a Delhi High Court hearing Wednesday (July 22) on a plea claiming excessive force against CJP protesters. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing petitioners, told the bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia that Lamba was seen slapping a stationary woman, insisting he be summoned and held accountable, NDTV reported.

Also read: Why CJI’s dismissal of CJP protest crackdown plea exposes gaps in suo motu rules

He noted water cannons weren’t deployed first, while tear gas was fired directly at protesters rather than away, contrary to protocol. The court issued notice to police, the Centre, and the National Human Rights Commission on PILs by Umesh Kumar and Anshul Kumar, granting four weeks for counter affidavits and directing preservation of CCTV and video records.

On Thursday (July 23), the CJP demanded the accused policeman’s suspension and charging him for “illegally” assaulting a young peaceful protester.

‘Lamba lost his cool’

ThePrint cited an unnamed DCP-rank Delhi Police officer saying Lamba’s act was a “spur of the moment” reaction, claiming the woman held nail-like objects and ignored instructions to leave, provoking him. The officer said Lamba “lost his cool” and has been directed to maintain discipline while handling women protesters.

Sonia Sehrawat, the stylish Insta-savvy RPF officer

Among those personnel in uniform is also a woman — Sonia Sehrawat, an Assistant Commandant in the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a wing of the Central Reserve Police Force specialising in riot control. One of her posts on Instagram, where she displays her moods liberally and has a sizeable following exceeding six lakhs, became controversial as it mocked the CJP.

As protests intensified on Monday after police used tear gas and baton charges against thousands of demonstrators during the “Chalo Sansad” march, Sehrawat, stationed there for riot control, shared the image of a dead cockroach on Instagram, saying, “Can’t fix themselves and they wanna fix the country.”

CJP chief asks whether Sehrawat supports beating up women

She deleted it after a massive backlash. The CJP soon retorted in a post on X, saying, “ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING. This RAF official actually sees the peaceful protesters as cockroaches and thinks that the brutality of the police was justified because of that. But you see, we are cockroaches. And cockroaches never die!”

TMC MP Mahua Moitra also slammed Sehrawat, asking for her record and saying such “zealots” should be named, shamed and dragged through the law. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke asked the officer whether as a woman, she supported the brutality being carried out against women by men.

The RPF was also not amused by the officer’s post. “These posts are creating a bad name for the forces. We are a professional unit and we have the mandate of crowd control and handle riot-like situations,” ThePrint quoted a CRPF officer as saying.

Also read: Has CJP protest revealed a chink in BJP’s armour? | Talking Sense With Srini

“Making political comments such as this one, even from a personal account when the personnel is personally involved in the duties, should amount to a disciplinary issue. Let’s see if the top brass take cognisance and a tough stance on it,” the officer added.

Mumbai cop accused of threatening protesters with drug case

Police conduct came under the lens in other parts of the country as well. In Mumbai, where protests also spread, a policeman was accused of threatening student demonstrators with a false drug case to shoo them away.

Mumbai Congress posted a video on X showing a cop warning some youngsters, seemed to be protesters, seated inside the police car to stay away from the protests or else they would be slapped with drug cases by planting 50 grams of powder in their bags and that would ruin their lives. He said the protests have made his life difficult.

The students, however, faked concerns and mocked the policemen as he turned his head away, the video showed. The Federal couldn’t verify the authenticity of the footage.

“A viral video claims that @MumbaiPolice is threatening protesting students that if they return to demonstrate again, they will be framed in false drug cases and forced to rot in jail for their entire lives. If this is true, it’s not just an attempt to intimidate students, but a direct attack on democratic rights. Raising one’s voice is not a crime. Students’ questions should be answered with accountability, not threats,” the Mumbai Congress said on X.

Also read: Who Is Rhiya Ahir? Woman who blocked police van during Mumbai students’ protest goes viral

According to a report by NDTV, the city police was looking into the allegations. It also said the driver seen warning the youths was removed from his post, pending the investigation. The police also assured that more action would be taken once the inquiry unearths details.

Mumbai Police’s methods to control the student protests, including digitally tracking the demonstrators and visiting their homes, have similarly drawn scrutiny.

In Patna, senior officer seen giving fierce command to his forces

In Patna, Bihar, too, the police came under criticism. As several students held a protest march through the city, a violent clash with the police was not far. As people got injured on both sides, a video of Patna West Superintendent of Police Sanket Kumar giving stern instructions to his forces became viral.

“If you retreat, I won’t leave you fit to do your job,” the IPS officer was on Wednesday heard warning his armed subordinates with a raised finger. Moments later, the forces were seen charging towards the protesters with their batons.

The footage surfaced as several student activists were seen clashing with police with sticks and stones while marching towards Lok Bhavan in Patna.

Also read: Blood on Capital streets as doctors, students unite in CJP protests

The All India Students’ Association, the student wing of the CPI(ML) Liberation, led the massive protests.

Patna’s Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya K Sharma said at least 22 police personnel were injured in the clashes.

“At least 22 police personnel have received injuries. Some of them have been discharged after first aid. Those with major injuries are still undergoing treatment at hospitals. Cases are being lodged. We expect the total number of FIRs to be in excess of 15,” he told news agency PTI.

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