More than 150 people were detained by Nagpur Police on Thursday after they staged a protest near Samvidhan Square condemning the detention of around 35 protestors from Wednesday night. Police said the gathering was unauthorised and that those detained would be booked for unlawful assembly.
The protest in Nagpur is part of the demonstrations that have erupted across the country following the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) call for protests demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks and subsequent student suicides.
Additional Commissioner of Police, Nagpur, Vinita Sahu who was present at the venue said, “Even though protest is a constitutional right, unlawful assembly is not permitted. We are exercising restraint. We first request the students to disperse, and only if they refuse do we detain them. They are being released immediately, but offences will be registered against them for unlawful protest.” She added that such cases could create problems for the protesters in the future. Police said one police official was injured during Thursday’s protest.
Police said the action was based on a similar incident on Wednesday night, when around 100 protesters remained after the permitted protest hours had ended at Samvidhan Square.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Rushikesh Singareddy said around 35 protesters were detained after repeatedly refusing to leave despite several appeals by the police.
“We even facilitated a conversation between the protesters and Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, but they were not willing to end the protest,” Singareddy said. According to police, those detained on Wednesday night were released around 2.30 am after being taken to a police station.
Police also denied allegations that they resorted to a lathi charge while clearing the protest site.
Story continues below this ad
Mohammad Tavqeer Athar, a CJP member in Nagpur, said the overnight protest was organised by Jan Badlaav Party leader, Yash Gourkhede with CJP extending support. Jan Badlaav Party is a local political outfit whose focus has been youth representation in governance.
Talking about the Wednesday night protest, Gourkhede told The Indian Express that organisers had initially obtained permission until 8 pm and had later submitted another application seeking to extend the protest until a public representative met the demonstrators.
He said they had spoken to Guardian Minister of Nagpur, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who reportedly assured them he would meet a delegation the following morning, prompting protesters to remain at the site overnight.
Gourkhede demanded resignations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He also requested Bawankule to address the brutality by Delhi police on protesters from Nagpur at Jantar Mantar.
Story continues below this ad
According to a voice recording accessed by The Indian Express, Bawankule appealed to protesters to leave the venue because of the rain and assured them that he would meet them the next day at a place of their choosing to hear their demands.
An independent content creator and protester at the site, Prince, said he remained at the site until the operation concluded, he also stated that he did not witness a lathi charge. He said the protest remained peaceful for most of the evening and police repeatedly requested demonstrators to disperse before physically removing those who refused to leave. During the operation, a woman protester briefly lost consciousness while being shifted to a police vehicle, he said. Gourkhede informed that the woman was undergoing treatment.
Athar said CJP members repeatedly urged protesters to disperse after the permitted time as no permission had been granted for an overnight sit-in.
“There was no lathi charge by the police. We kept requesting people to leave because we did not have permission to continue the protest. Even today’s protest was not organised by CJP,” Athar said.
Ankita Deshkar is a Deputy Copy Editor and a dedicated fact-checker at The Indian Express. Based in Maharashtra, she specializes in bridging the gap between technical complexity and public understanding. With a deep focus on Cyber Law, Information Technology, and Public Safety, she leads "The Safe Side" series, where she deconstructs emerging digital threats and financial scams. Ankita is also a certified trainer for the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network, specializing in online verification and the fight against misinformation. She is also an AI trainer with ADiRA (AI for Digital Readiness and Advancement)
Professional Background & Expertise
Role: Fact-checker & Deputy Copy Editor, The Indian Express
Experience: Started working in 2016
Ankita brings a unique multidisciplinary background to her journalism, combining engineering logic with mass communication expertise. Her work often intersects regional governance, wildlife conservation, and digital rights, making her a leading voice on issues affecting Central India, particularly the Vidarbha region.
Key focus areas include:
Fact-Checking & Verification: As a GNI-certified trainer, she conducts workshops on debunking deepfakes, verifying viral claims, and using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools.
Cyber Law & IT: With postgraduate specialization in Cyber Law, she decodes the legalities of data privacy, digital fraud, and the evolving landscape of intellectual property rights.
Public Safety & Health: Through her "The Safe Side" column, she provides actionable intelligence on avoiding "juice jacking," "e-SIM scams," and digital extortion.
Regional Reporting: She provides on-ground coverage of high-stakes issues in Maharashtra, from Maoist surrenders in Gadchiroli to critical healthcare updates and wildlife-human conflict in Nagpur.
Education & Credentials
Ankita is currently pursuing her PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism, focusing on the non-verbal communication through Indian classical dance forms. Her academic foundation includes:
MA in Mass Communication (RTM Nagpur University)
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (RTM Nagpur University)
Post Graduate Diploma (PGTD) in Cyber Law and Information Technology
Specialization in Intellectual Property Rights
Recent Notable Coverage
Ankita’s reportage is recognized for its investigative depth and emphasis on accountability:
Cyber Security: "Lost money to a scam? Act within the 'golden hour' or risk losing it all" — A deep dive into the critical window for freezing fraudulent transactions.
Public Health: "From deep coma to recovery: First fully recovered Coldrif patient discharged" — Investigating the aftermath of pharmaceutical toxins and the healthcare response.
Governance & Conflict: "Gadchiroli now looks like any normal city: SP Neelotpal" — An analysis of the socio-political shift in Maoist-affected regions.
Signature Beat
Ankita is best known for her ability to translate "technical jargon into human stories." Whether she is explaining how AI tools like MahaCrimeOS assist the police or exposing the dire conditions of wildlife transit centres, her writing serves as a bridge between specialized knowledge and everyday safety.
Contact & Follow
X (Twitter): @ankita_deshkar
Email: ankita.deshkar@indianexpress.com
... Read More
