NHRC's Kanoongo slams use of minors as 'shields' at Mumbai CJP protest
Synopsis
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo has invoked Syria-era comparisons to condemn the alleged use of children as human shields at a CJP-led Mumbai protest on 2 October, directing Mumbai Police to file an FIR and Maharashtra's child welfare machinery to rescue the minors — a rare multi-authority intervention that raises serious questions about protest conduct and child protection.
Key Takeaways
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo condemned the alleged use of minors as 'shields' during a CJP -led protest in Mumbai on 2 October 2026 .
Complaint filed by Satish Vaid of Seva Nyay Utthan Foundation alleges protest was coordinated via WhatsApp groups; CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke and Saurav Das named.
NHRC directed Mumbai Police Commissioner to register an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 .
Maharashtra Women and Child Development Department ordered to identify, rescue, and provide protective care to affected children via the Child Welfare Committee .
MeitY directed to act on social media circulation of images identifying the minors; POCSO Act violations flagged.
Alleged violation of Section 83(2) of the Juvenile Justice Act cited by Kanoongo.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo on Saturday, 3 October 2026, sharply condemned the alleged use of children as human shields during a Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)-led protest in Mumbai on 2 October, comparing the practice to what he described as tactics seen in Syria and other 'terror-affected countries.' The NHRC has taken cognisance of formal complaints and issued directives to multiple authorities, including the Mumbai Police Commissioner and the Maharashtra Women and Child Development Department.
What the Complaint Alleges
According to Kanoongo, the complaint was filed by Satish Vaid, Head of Intervention at Seva Nyay Utthan Foundation, who alleged that children were positioned between police and protesters during what he termed an 'illegal protest' in Mumbai. Kanoongo stated: 'This appears similar to practices in Syria and other terror-affected countries, where children are used as shields and pushed to the forefront of illegal activities by the real accused to protect themselves.'
Kanoongo further said the complainant indicated the protest was coordinated through WhatsApp groups, and alleged that CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke and Saurav Das, among others, misused children during the event. He cited a potential violation of Section 83(2) of the Juvenile Justice Act.
NHRC Directives to Authorities
The NHRC has directed the Mumbai Police Commissioner to register a First Information Report (FIR) under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). Separately, the Maharashtra Women and Child Development Department has been instructed to identify and rescue the children involved and provide them a protective environment through the Child Welfare Committee.
Kanoongo stated: 'The provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act must be fully followed throughout the process.'
Social Media and POCSO Concerns
The NHRC has also directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to act on the circulation of photographs and videos allegedly identifying the minor children involved. Kanoongo warned that revealing the identity of the children on social media 'could also amount to a violation of the POCSO Act,' and directed police to take action against concerned individuals should such content continue to circulate.
Kanoongo's Broader Warning
In a strongly worded statement, Kanoongo remarked: 'Using children in violent acts is the modus operandi of anti-social elements.' He added: 'We have dealt with terrorists and Naxals; we will deal with these people too... India's legal system is mighty enough to do that.' Critics are likely to scrutinise the language used, given that the protest remains a matter of contested characterisation between the organisers and authorities. The CJP's position on these allegations was not immediately available. As directives from the NHRC move through official channels, attention will turn to whether the Mumbai Police registers an FIR and how the Maharashtra government responds to the child welfare mandate.
Point of View
Spanning police, child welfare, and MeitY, signals institutional seriousness, but the CJP's account of events has not yet entered the public record, creating an imbalanced picture. Child protection statutes are non-negotiable regardless of the protest's political character, yet conflating a domestic demonstration with conflict-zone tactics risks undermining the credibility of an otherwise legitimate child safety intervention. The real test is whether the Mumbai Police and Maharashtra government act on these directives — or whether they remain paper orders.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo allege about the Mumbai CJP protest?
Kanoongo alleged that children were used as human shields between police and protesters during a CJP-led protest in Mumbai on 2 October 2026, comparing the alleged practice to tactics seen in Syria and other terror-affected countries. The NHRC took cognisance of a formal complaint by Satish Vaid of Seva Nyay Utthan Foundation.
What action has the NHRC directed authorities to take?
The NHRC has directed the Mumbai Police Commissioner to register an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and ordered the Maharashtra Women and Child Development Department to identify and rescue the children involved. MeitY has also been directed to address the circulation of images identifying the minors on social media.
Which laws are alleged to have been violated?
Kanoongo cited a potential violation of Section 83(2) of the Juvenile Justice Act in connection with the alleged use of minors. He also flagged that the social media circulation of images identifying the children could amount to a violation of the POCSO Act.
Who are the individuals named in the complaint?
CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke and Saurav Das were named by Kanoongo as allegedly having misused children during the protest. The complaint was filed by Satish Vaid, Head of Intervention at Seva Nyay Utthan Foundation.
What is the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and what was the protest about?
The Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) is a civil rights organisation that organised the protest in Mumbai on 2 October 2026. The specific subject of the protest was not detailed in the available information; the CJP's response to the NHRC's allegations had not been made public at the time of reporting.
