Thousands join Mumbai student protest after police detentions ahead of rally

A large crowd of students and supporters marches through Dadar during Wednesday’s protest in support of the CJP’s education reforms movement. Pics/Atul Kamble

What began as a show of solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) ongoing education reforms protest in Delhi snowballed into one of Mumbai's biggest student demonstrations on Wednesday, as a small gathering outside Shivaji Park grew into a crowd of thousands after police began detaining suspected participants even before the demonstration officially started.

Protesters march through Dadar after regrouping near Sena Bhavan during Wednesday's demonstration

As students regrouped near Sena Bhavan to avoid heavy police deployment around Shivaji Park, the crowd swelled through word of mouth. By evening, protesters had occupied roads, halted traffic, and surrounded police vans carrying detained demonstrators, prompting officers to release some of them before gradually dispersing the crowd.

A protester sits on the road as police attempt to detain demonstrators during Wednesday's protest in Dadar

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone III) Mahendra Pandit said police were acting on magistrate's orders. "The reason why we are here is to maintain law and order. As per the magistrate's orders, we have been deployed to ensure gatherings without permission are controlled."

The turning point during the protest

A protester offers a rose to a police officer during Wednesday's student demonstration in Dadar

The protest gained momentum after students abandoned Shivaji Park, where police presence was heavy, and regrouped near Sena Bhavan. As more people arrived through word of mouth, the crowd grew from a few dozen to thousands, transforming a planned gathering into a city-wide show of support.

Police speak

DCP Mahendra Pandit
"The reason why we are here is to maintain law and order. As per the magistrate's orders, we have been deployed to ensure gatherings without permission are controlled."

Why the crowd shifted

According to protesters, heavy police deployment around Shivaji Park forced them to change strategy.

Karthikeyan Viswanathan
"The original plan was Shivaji Park, but there were many police personnel there. So we decided to gather near Sena Bhavan instead. As people spread the word, the crowd kept growing." He said protesters later marched via Plaza before heading towards Shivaji Park and Raj Thackeray's residence.

Voices from the protest

Allroi D'Souza
"I have three sons and two of them are preparing for their MBAs. I am here because these students are asking the right questions. Their protests in Mumbai have been completely peaceful. I empathise with those affected by the alleged NEET paper leak. That's what brought me here."

Protester (name withheld)
"I was here before the protest began and was hurt when police tried taking me towards the vans. Seeing so many people gather showed we are not afraid to ask questions, even if there is a fear of detention or criminal cases."

How the protest unfolded

3.50 pm
Police begin detaining people suspected of participating, even before the scheduled start.

4 pm
Official protest time; several students who acknowledged attending are detained.

4.30 pm
A silent march is stopped, and protesters are asked to disperse.

5 pm
Some participants are detained after requesting permission to continue.

5.30 pm
Students regroup near Sena Bhavan, where numbers rapidly swell into the thousands.

5.45 pm
Crowd surrounds a police van carrying detainees and raises slogans. Police release some detained protesters.

6 pm
Protesters march towards Shivaji Park, briefly disrupting traffic.

6.30 pm
Some enter Shivaji Park before police move them back onto surrounding roads.

6.34 pm
MNS chief Raj Thackeray addresses students gathered outside his residence.

6.45 pm
Police disperse the crowd, and traffic gradually returns to normal.