India Police Use Tear Gas on Protestors Over Exam Leaks

Indian police deployed tear gas on Saturday, March 16, 2024, to disperse protestors in New Delhi. The demonstration was organized by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, a political group advocating for reforms. The protestors gathered to demand the resignation of India's Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, citing widespread allegations of exam paper leaks.

The Cockroach Janta Party claims that multiple national-level examinations have been compromised due to these leaks, undermining the integrity of the education system. The party's leadership stated that the protests were a response to a perceived lack of accountability from the Ministry of Education. Supporters carried banners and chanted slogans as they marched towards the ministry building, leading to the confrontation with law enforcement.

Eyewitness accounts and video footage showed police using tear gas shells and water cannons to push back the demonstrators. Several protestors, including some who identified themselves as students, reported experiencing breathing difficulties and temporary vision impairment due to the gas. The police maintained that the use of force was necessary to control the crowd and prevent any disruption to public order. The Ministry of Education has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the specific demands of the Cockroach Janta Party or the recent exam leak allegations.