July 20 Police Crackdown Swells Delhi Student Protest Into Thousands as 118 Officers Reported Injured
Updated
Updated · India Today · Jul 22
July 20 Police Crackdown Swells Delhi Student Protest Into Thousands as 118 Officers Reported Injured
3 articles · Updated · India Today · Jul 22
Summary
Thousands of students and youths packed Jantar Mantar by Wednesday, turning a previously manageable protest over the NEET-UG paper leak into a crowd organizers said was too large to count.
Videos of the July 20 lathi-charge and tear-gas use during a march toward Parliament drew many first-time protesters to Delhi, shifting the movement from exam accountability to anger over the right to protest.
Students said the police action became a rallying cry, with fresh arrivals from Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other states carrying overnight bags and preparing to stay.
Delhi Police said the force was necessary after protesters violated orders, tried to breach barricades and attacked officers, reporting more than 118 personnel injured and about 70 demonstrators detained.
The swelling turnout adds to a broader youth challenge for Narendra Modi's government, already under pressure over canceled exams, alleged paper leaks and job scarcity.