India’s ‘cockroach’ party clashes with police using batons and tear gas in New Delhi

India’s ‘cockroach’ party clashes with police using batons and tear gas in New Delhi
July 20, 2026

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India’s ‘cockroach’ party clashes with police using batons and tear gas in New Delhi

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Indian youth activists from the “cockroach” movement have faced police batons and tear gas while attempting to march on Parliament.

The Cockroach Janta Party, formed in May, was named after a Supreme Court judge controversially likened unemployed youth to “cockroaches”.

Public anger has been sparked by leaks of exam papers.

The movement has since gained political weight, calling for widespread reforms and the resignation of the education minister.

Senior officials, however, have taken a hard line against the group.

A protester from the Cockroach Janta Party is dragged by police (Reuters)A member of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) fires a tear gas canister towards protesters (Reuters)Young people have been angered by the leak of exam papers (Reuters)Police personnel turn over a damaged vehicle (AFP/Getty)Police use batons to disperse the crowd (Reuters)Masked protesters hold an Indian flag near plumes of tear gas (Reuters)Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party gather as they march toward parliament (Reuters)People walk next to a vandalised bus with a damaged windscreen as supporters of India’s Cockroach Janta Party demonstrate (Reuters)Police officers remove a protester (Reuters)Tear gas spreads around protesters (Reuters)A member of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) fires a tear gas canister towards protesters (Reuters)Protesters with an Indian flag gesture in request for the police not to use tear gas (Reuters)Police use batons to quell protesters (Reuters)A police officer throws a tear gas canister towards protesters (Reuters)Demonstrators hurl a stone and a chair towards police (Reuters)Police use batons to disperse supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (Reuters)Protesters scuffle with police officers (Reuters)Thousands of young people packed the streets (Reuters)

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