India activists demand release of detained ‘Cockroach’ protesters

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New Delhi: Indian activists demanded on Monday the immediate release of students and other protesters held in numerous states as part of the statewide 'Cockroach' movement, warning that the arrests violated the government's promises to end the protests.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which led weeks of protests against alleged examination paper leaks and anomalies in India's education system, said that state authorities were targeting protesters, notably in Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar. The group stated that it called off its nationwide protest only after getting guarantees that participants would face no disciplinary or punitive measures.

The movement's leaders have urged the central government to release those imprisoned and prevent future coercive measures against its members. The demand comes only days after protests won a major political victory with the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The protests began over alleged anomalies in major admission exams, but quickly expanded into a larger youth-led movement seeking education reforms, accountability, and action to address the impact of exam-related scandals on students and families. The government has also agreed to investigate larger examination reforms, as well as compensation for families of students who killed themselves as a result of the alleged leaks.