Mumbai CJP protest: FIR being registered against protesters who gathered at Dadar, say cops

Several protesters were taken into custody as police dispersed the gathering near Chaityabhoomi. Pic/Shadab Khan

Mumbai Police on Monday detained several protesters after they gathered at Chaityabhoomi in Dadar to express solidarity with activist Sonam Wangchuk and the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) 'Chalo Sansad' march.

According to a senior Mumbai Police official, no permission had been granted to hold any protest at Chaityabhoomi.

The police said permission sought by supporters of the Shetkari Kamgar Paksha, the Communist Party of India (M), and CJP supporters had been refused by Shivaji Park Police Station.

The detained protesters were later taken to Shivaji Park Police station in Central Mumbai.

Officials did not release the details regarding the identities of those detained.

The police official said that the process of registering a First Information Report (FIR) against those who participated in the unauthorised protest is under way at Shivaji Park Police Station.

Demonstrators detained

Several protesters were taken into custody as police dispersed the gathering near Chaityabhoomi.

Some demonstrators alleged that participants had been detained before they could even reach the protest venue.

The police action prompted protesters to raise slogans against the Union government and accuse the Maharashtra government of preventing a peaceful demonstration.

Protests held across Mumbai

Apart from the gathering at Chaityabhoomi, demonstrations were organised at several locations across Mumbai.

Workers and supporters of the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) staged a protest outside Mumbai University, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and expressing support for Wangchuk's campaign on education accountability.

Several opposition leaders criticised the police response to the demonstrations.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray claimed that young protesters had been detained after gathering peacefully.

In a post on X, Thackeray claimed that the young protesters were taken to Mahim Police Station despite assembling peacefully. He alleged that the police action was carried out under orders from the "top" and said Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Mahesh Sawant, along with party workers, had reached the police station to support those detained.

Thackeray said the protesters were demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and questioned why the government was using what he described as "brute force" against young people raising concerns about the education system.

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Rohit Pawar also criticised the police action, comparing it with colonial-era suppression of peaceful protests.

Mumbai Police maintained that the gathering had not been granted permission and that action was taken in accordance with the law.