India’s ‘cockroach’ protesters demand detainees’ release after minister resigns over exam failures

India’s youth-led “cockroach” protest movement called on authorities on Monday to release demonstrators detained during nationwide rallies over examination paper leaks and other irregularities.

The online Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, said it had received reports of students being held, particularly in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar. The movement said failing to release the detainees or withdraw criminal cases against them would breach public trust. It said it would take further steps if its demands were not met.

The statement came two days after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as education minister following repeated failures in the conduct of competitive examinations.

The CJP was launched in May by 30-year-old public relations graduate Abhijeet Dipke and has gained millions of followers on social media.

Tens of thousands of protesters, mainly students, rallied last week in New Delhi and other cities. They demanded Pradhan’s resignation and wider reforms to the examination system.

Demonstrations in New Delhi turned violent on July 20 when protesters attempted to march from the Jantar Mantar protest site toward parliament.

Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd, leading to clashes and detentions.

The issue reached parliament on Monday, where opposition lawmakers repeatedly disrupted proceedings while demanding a government response to the police action.

Despite the disruptions, the government introduced legislation in the lower house seeking tougher penalties for examination paper leaks.