Delhi Police orders uniform duty at Jantar Mantar amid NEET protest row
Synopsis
Delhi Police's order mandating uniforms at Jantar Mantar is a direct response to a two-front controversy: the alleged plainclothes detention of hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk and accusations of unidentified officers lathi-charging student protesters demanding accountability for the NEET paper leak. With 118 police personnel also claiming injuries, the standoff is rapidly becoming a test of institutional credibility on both sides.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police on 22 July ordered all personnel at Jantar Mantar to report for duty in proper police uniform.
The directive follows allegations that plainclothes officers removed hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site on 18 July and admitted him to Safdarjung Hospital .
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) -led agitation demands the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the 3 May NEET paper leak .
Delhi Police reported 118 personnel injured , including senior officers, during the violent protest; protesters allege a lathi-charge on 20 June and during Monday's 'Sansad Chalo' march.
The CJP posted a video on X alleging plainclothes officers carried lathis without uniforms or ID cards during the march to Parliament.
Delhi Police on Wednesday, 22 July issued fresh directions mandating all personnel deployed at Jantar Mantar to report for duty in proper police uniform, following a sharp controversy over plainclothes officers allegedly detaining climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and assaulting student protesters at the ongoing NEET paper leak agitation.
What the Order Says
An official statement confirmed that Delhi Police has communicated instructions to all concerned units, directing officers and personnel detailed at the protest site to wear uniform while performing law and order duties. The directive comes amid mounting criticism over the conduct of plainclothes personnel at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
The Sonam Wangchuk Controversy
The row intensified after agitators alleged that plainclothes police officers 'forcefully' removed Sonam Wangchuk — who had been on a hunger strike at the protest site — on 18 July and admitted him to Safdarjung Hospital. The CJP and allied protesters accused unidentified personnel in civil clothes of conducting the removal without displaying any identification.
The Sansad Chalo March and Lathi-Charge Allegations
Tensions had already escalated on Monday when scores of protesters, led by the CJP, undertook a 'Sansad Chalo' march to Parliament demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the 3 May NEET paper leak. The CJP accused plainclothes officers of carrying lathis and targeting marchers without wearing uniforms or displaying ID cards. Posting a video on its X account, the CJP stated: 'Plainclothes officers carrying lathis spotted excitedly going to beat up their next targets. No uniform, no ID cards, just armed to protect Dharmendra Pradhan's chair.'
This follows a 20 June 'Sansad Chalo' march in which protesters were lathi-charged and tear-gassed. The CJP claimed several people were badly injured and left bleeding after the security forces' action.
Delhi Police's Counter-Position
Delhi Police pushed back against the allegations, accusing protesters of displaying 'unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour.' The force stated that 118 police personnel — including senior officers — were injured during the violent protest, with several personnel reportedly attacked with stones and police vehicles vandalised. Injured personnel said on Tuesday that some unruly elements had mixed with the agitators and were responsible for defying orders, pelting stones, and vandalising vehicles.
What Comes Next
The uniform directive signals an attempt by Delhi Police to restore procedural accountability amid the controversy. However, with the NEET agitation showing no signs of abating and demands for Minister Pradhan's resignation persisting, the standoff between protesters and security forces at Jantar Mantar is likely to remain a flashpoint in the coming days.
Point of View
Not a structural fix. Delhi Police issuing a dress-code order under public pressure does not address the core question: whether plainclothes personnel acted outside sanctioned procedure when detaining Sonam Wangchuk or during the 20 June crackdown. The competing injury tallies — 118 police personnel on one side, bleeding protesters on the other — reflect a breakdown in protest management protocol that a uniform order alone cannot resolve. The NEET agitation has exposed a wider accountability gap: when officers are unidentifiable, neither protesters nor courts can establish a chain of command for alleged excesses. That is the real governance failure here.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Delhi Police issue the uniform order at Jantar Mantar?
Delhi Police issued the order on 22 July directing all personnel at Jantar Mantar to report in proper police uniform, following accusations that plainclothes officers forcibly removed activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site and allegedly assaulted protesters during the NEET agitation marches without displaying identification.
What happened to Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar?
Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike at the Jantar Mantar protest site, was allegedly removed by plainclothes police officers on 18 July and admitted to Safdarjung Hospital. Protesters claimed the removal was forcible; Delhi Police has not publicly confirmed the specifics of the operation.
What is the NEET paper leak protest about?
The agitation, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and allied groups, demands the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the 3 May NEET paper leak. Protesters have conducted multiple marches to Parliament, including the 'Sansad Chalo' demonstrations on 20 June and on Monday.
How many police personnel were injured during the NEET protests?
Delhi Police stated that 118 personnel, including senior officers, were injured during the violent protest. The force alleged that agitators pelted stones and vandalised police vehicles, while injured officers said unruly elements had mixed in with the protesters.
What did the CJP post on X about the plainclothes officers?
The CJP posted a video on its X account alleging that plainclothes officers carrying lathis were spotted moving toward protesters without wearing uniforms or displaying ID cards. The post stated they were 'armed to protect Dharmendra Pradhan's chair,' according to the organisation's account.
