22 July,2026 08:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram Kavattur
Students gather at Shivaji Park to protest on Tuesday. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE
About a thousand people gathered at Shivaji Park on Tuesday to protest in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) after hundreds were detained on Monday for protesting without permission at Chaityabhumi in Dadar West.
While the protest on Tuesday was also one without permission from the authorities, it became a success in just half an hour. The protest was organised by young adults via WhatsApp and Instagram, where details regarding the protest site and timings were shared.
The police detain Shivaji Park protesters on Tuesday, as the crowd began to swell. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE
Police personnel were stationed at Shivaji Park since noon, and were then joined by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Mahendra Pandit at 4.30 pm. This reporter was at Shivaji Park since 3.30 pm, where only a few police personnel were seen. However, in just an hour, as the protestors showed up, the police detained about 20 people.
One of the protesters detained on Monday, Sandhya Panaskar, said, "On Monday, we weren't told anything about a Zero FIR or a notice. Some detainees who were held at other police stations got notices. I didn't receive one. Only one lady who was held at Worli police station got one. Many of them got their notices at 3 am or 4 am on Tuesday, and were asked to come to the respective police station at 10 am to sign their names in."
Heavy police deployment could be seen at CSMT railway Metro stations, the BMC headquarters, Azad Maidan, Vidhan Bhavan, and Nariman Point. "No unrest yet," said an officer around 2.30 pm on Tuesday; "No unrest in South Zone," said another in the evening. "Security arrangements are deterring people," said a student who couldn't protest due to the lack of a crowd at Nariman Point. A Mumbai Police official said in the evening that no major unrest was reported. Attempts were made to contact Mumbai Police spokesperson Raj Tilak Roshan to verify this, but he didn't respond. mid-day sent a query regarding arrangements and the number of detentions to Joint CP (Law & Order) Manoj Kumar Sharma but didn't receive a response.
While protesters who were in front of the Meenatai Thackeray statue were detained, there was commotion among a group in front of âShivtirth', the residence of MNS chief Raj Thackeray. A witness, Duane Fernandes, said, "The crowd grew when police were trying to detain a lady wearing a hijab. As the police pulled her into the van, her hijab came off, but they still didn't stop. This enraged all the kids present, and they started chanting and protesting right in front of the Thackeray house." As the commotion grew, with the police detaining a few others, Sharmila Thackeray and her son Amit Thackeray came out. This led to the police releasing those detained.
After those detained outside Shivtirth were released, the protestors began demanding that their co-protesters who had been detained be released immediately. While at first the police were apprehensive of the demand, the detainees were let out by 6 pm.
An officer, from Dongri police
âPeople gathered at Charnal bus stop, Dongri, Sandhurst Road, around 5 pm on Tuesday. According to Dongri police, officials intervened and dispersed the crowd within 10 minutes of a gathering of around 50 people being reported. "It wasn't a student protest. It was a memorial ceremony arranged by local political leaders without permission'
Sharif Deshmukh, 60, a Vidhan Sabha coordinator for Shiv Sena UBT who organised the event, said
âWe wanted to simply give our respect to the NEET students who died by suicide. We had approached the local police station for permission but were denied. We were very affected by what happened with the students and couldn't hold back. This is a democracy. Can't citizens even pay homage to students? Around 100 of us, including women and students, had gathered to pay our respects. The police stopped our gathering like we were some criminals.'
Misti Moon, 21,
âI recently returned from the US after I completed my undergrad, but I deeply believe in the concerns of Indian students about accountability, and I support the cause. I visited both Nariman Point and Shivaji Park to stand in solidarity with fellow students, but the sheer number of police personnel with batons and barricades stopped me from participating.'
Qaid Zoher, 51, law student, founder and chairman of Alert Citizens Group, and Byculla resident
âI deeply resonate with the key problem that the government isn't ready to listen and reason. Around eight of us attended the protest on both days at Shivaji Park. We aren't supporting any political group; we purely support the students' concerns. I had also attended the CJP protest at Azaad Maidan. On Tuesday, the students were even more vocal, and there were as many as on Monday, if not more. They had come prepared to raise their voice despite knowing they might be detained by the police. I didn't find that the police presence at Shivaji Park was any more than it was on Monday.'
Sharmila Thackeray,
âI heard everything and came down to see the kids being shoved into the vans. I didn't like the sight of that, hence I stepped up to the officers and told them to detain me as well, if they were detaining the kids.'
A protester, who was detained
âThe only sad thing I felt was when the lady in hijab was being taken away. Everyone was trying to run away from the scene, and the same happened with me. If Sharmila-ji hadn't come, I would've been taken away, no doubt.'
