Mumbai: Mumbai police have filed five FIRs across the city in connection with the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) protests in the city over the past two days against paper leaks. On Monday, CJP supporters marched from Chaityabhoomi to Plaza Cinema in Dadar. Several of them were detained by the police for violating prohibitory orders which are in place.The police have issued fresh prohibitory orders for the city from July 23 to Aug 6, banning assemblies of five or more persons in public places without permission.An FIR would be filed against those protesting in Dadar on Monday as well. Deputy commissioner of police Mahendra Pandit said, “No permission was granted for holding any protest at Chaityabhoomi, and the process of registering an FIR against those who participated in the protest is underway at Shivaji Park police station.”Monday’s protest began outside Chaityabhoomi, where students, young professionals and activists gathered. While many carried handwritten slogans demanding justice for repeated exam paper leaks and education reforms, one protester waved colours from a Japanese anime as a symbol of “resistance against the system.” Some held up copies of the Constitution’s Preamble and chanted “Jai Bhim” and “Inquilab Zindabad.”Minutes after the march began, police detained several protesters and dispersed the gathering. The crowd then regrouped near a restaurant, where slogans were raised again through the evening traffic.The protesters then marched towards Plaza Cinema. By the time they reached R K Vaidya Road, their numbers had thinned and they occupied part of the carriageway. Police then detained those leading the demonstration and cleared the road. Because of rain, more and more protestors disappeared into the columns of passersby.A nursing student from Terna Medical College who had joined the protest said, “I am studying nursing today because I could not secure admission to medical college after the 2023-24 NEET paper leak. There is a constant feeling of guilt that I could not become a doctor. Every year, there is a paper leak or some other failure in the education system, promised reforms have never materialised.” He added, “We were told the National Education Policy would transform education. The Finland model would be adopted. But where is the planning? Where is the implementation? Where is skill education?”For some, frustration extended well beyond paper leaks. “We are protesting for education and for everything people deal with in everyday life,” said Ravi Chaure (22), a recent graduate of Dadar Catering College, who learnt about the protest through social media. “Corruption has seeped into every aspect of life. I graduated from one of the biggest colleges in this area and I still cannot find a job. Every year we keep discussing the same issues. We need justice.”As police attempted to clear another group of demonstrators, an elderly constable appealed to a cluster of young women standing with placards. “You are protesting for a rightful cause,” he told them. “But there is no permission to protest here.”
