The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) alleged that internet services were suspended in parts of India’s capital, Delhi, on Monday during its ‘Chalo Sansad’ protest. The party claimed the move was intended to prevent information about the demonstration from reaching the public. Thousands of supporters reportedly gathered near Jantar Mantar, but the party said it could not share live updates due to the disruption. Through posts on its X account, CJP accused authorities of cowardice and urged supporters to remain calm while continuing efforts to communicate updates.

Security was tightened across Delhi as protesters attempted to march toward Parliament despite restrictions. Police and Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed in large numbers around Jantar Mantar and Parliament Street, where clashes broke out after demonstrators tried to break barricades. Delhi Police stated earlier that no permission had been granted for the rally and that prohibitory orders remained in effect. However, there was no immediate official response from the police or government regarding the internet shutdown allegations.

Police in India’s capital, Delhi, detained Abhijit Dipke, the head of the youth-led Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), following clashes between protesters and law enforcement during a march toward Parliament. The confrontation occurred on Monday during the party’s pre-announced ‘Parliament Chalo’ rally, which authorities had not permitted. Thousands of CJP supporters had gathered for the event, demanding justice over alleged irregularities in the national medical college entrance exam and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

According to the organization, police used batons to disperse demonstrators and temporarily suspended mobile internet services in parts of central Delhi to control the situation. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das posted on social media platform X, urging lawmakers to support students and confirming that Dipke had been taken by police.

The protest gained renewed momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly hospitalized during a hunger strike on Saturday. The incident coincided with the opening day of Parliament’s monsoon session, drawing hundreds of supporters to the protest site.

Police in India’s capital, Delhi, clashed with supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Monday during a march toward Parliament. The confrontation occurred on the first day of the monsoon session, when police used batons to disperse demonstrators participating in the ‘Parliament Chalo’ rally. Thousands had gathered to protest alleged irregularities in the national medical college entrance exam and to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement gained momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly hospitalized during a hunger strike.

Authorities imposed temporary mobile internet shutdowns in parts of central Delhi and closed five key metro stations—Rajiv Chowk, Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, and Sewa Tirth—to control the situation. The CJP urged its supporters to remain peaceful despite police restrictions. Delhi Police had earlier banned gatherings of more than five people outside the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar.

The ‘Cockroach’ movement began online in May after a major exam paper leak affected millions of students, rapidly growing into a nationwide protest that poses a significant political challenge to the Modi government.

Delhi Police has denied permission for supporters of the youth-led Cockroach Janata Party to march toward Parliament, though protesters have refused to withdraw their plan. The ban comes amid rising tension and fears of a standoff, as demands grow for the resignation of India’s education minister over a major exam paper leak. The protest gained new momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly hospitalized on Saturday.

Hundreds of supporters have already gathered near the protest site on the first day of Parliament’s monsoon session. The Cockroach movement began in May after a massive exam paper leak affected millions of students, quickly spreading from social media to nationwide demonstrations. Wangchuk described the planned march as India’s “second freedom movement,” calling it a fight against injustice and fear.

Police cited security concerns and restrictions on gatherings of more than five people in New Delhi during the parliamentary session. Despite this, the Cockroach Janata Party said the march would proceed as planned, with final details still being arranged.

After India resumed visa services for Bangladeshi citizens following a long suspension, Kolkata’s major commercial areas such as New Market and Marquis Street have remained unusually quiet. Local traders and hotel owners had expected a revival of business once visas reopened, but the anticipated influx of Bangladeshi tourists has not materialized. Many attribute this reluctance to political tensions, safety concerns, and the growing appeal of alternative destinations.

Social media discussions among Bangladeshis reveal widespread apprehension about traveling to India, citing reports of hostility toward Muslims and fears of harassment. Some travelers emphasize that personal safety and hospitality are now their top priorities. The political climate and negative rhetoric from Indian political groups have further discouraged potential visitors.

As a result, many Bangladeshis are exploring other destinations such as China, the Maldives, Thailand, Nepal, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. Kolkata’s tourism-dependent economy is suffering, with hotel occupancy and retail sales plummeting. Local business owners warn that unless safety and respect are restored in travelers’ perceptions, the city’s tourism and trade sectors may face a deeper crisis.

Severe flooding in Maharashtra’s Raigad district has destroyed around one million clay Ganesh idols just weeks before the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Thousands of workshops and artisans have suffered major losses as floodwaters swept away finished idols, molds, and raw materials. Many artisans, including Bhaskar Dilip Matre, lost months of work and their primary source of income. Local authorities have begun assessing the damage, with officials promising financial assistance once evaluations are complete.

Raigad is a major hub for Ganesh idol production, hosting about 20,000 workshops that produce up to eight million idols annually, supporting roughly 150,000 seasonal workers and generating business worth 3.5 billion rupees. This year’s floods, caused by over 548 millimeters of rain between July 5 and 7, have disrupted the entire production cycle. Artisans say insurance coverage is insufficient, and many are struggling to meet festival orders.

Some workshop owners are planning to build permanent shelters and raise platforms to protect future production. However, with the festival approaching, artisans are focused on salvaging what remains and fulfilling as many orders as possible.

A 23-year-old gold medalist engineer in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, died by suicide after failing around 50 government job examinations. Police recovered the body of Anand Kumar from his rented apartment in the Gujaini area under Govind Nagar police station on Friday, July 19, 2026. A five-line note found at the scene repeatedly apologized to his father, stating he had tried 50 times for a government job but could not succeed.

Anand completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering in 2024 from a reputed Kanpur college, where he ranked third in the state and received a gold medal from Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel on August 13, 2024. His father, Rajkumar, a retired private employee from Bihar’s Buxar district, lived with him in Kanpur. During the incident, Anand’s father and grandfather were away in Bihar finalizing his elder brother’s marriage.

Police said Anand had been preparing for government exams while working in a private job but was under mental stress due to repeated failures.

Opposition parties in India have accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deliberately targeting Muslim establishments in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections. They allege that demolition drives are being carried out to gain political advantage and deepen communal polarization. Central to the controversy is the Rampur Development Authority’s decision to demolish 38 of the 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, founded by Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan. Similar operations in Sambhal and other districts have also drawn criticism.

SP leader and MP Afzal Ansari described the actions as a “heinous plan,” predicting that such drives will intensify as elections approach. The Congress Party echoed the allegations, claiming the BJP is using communal tactics to distract from failures in development and employment. Congress national secretary Shahnawaz Alam said these moves contradict India’s pluralistic ideals.

Opposition leaders have sought Supreme Court intervention, arguing that the judiciary must protect citizens’ fundamental rights from executive overreach. The Uttar Pradesh government and BJP have denied all allegations, asserting that the demolitions follow legal procedures against illegal encroachments.

Indian police are investigating the theft of donations from the famous Ram Temple in Ayodhya, a case that has raised new concerns about transparency in managing large sums of money and gold at religious sites. The investigation began in June, and eight people have been arrested so far. Although authorities have not disclosed the exact amount stolen, media reports estimate it at around 30 million rupees, or roughly 314,000 US dollars.

The incident has reignited debate over accountability in temple finances. Devotees expressed frustration that money given in faith could be misused, while Hindu activist Rahul Easwar called for digital accounting, CCTV monitoring, and independent oversight in religious institutions. Similar scandals have previously occurred at Badrinath Temple and the wealthy Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam trust.

The Ram Temple, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024, attracts about 90,000 visitors daily and receives large donations in cash and jewelry. Legal experts note that India lacks a unified national framework for regulating religious institutions, leading to inconsistent oversight across states.

At least eight people were killed and six others went missing after heavy rains triggered landslides and flash floods in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Rajouri districts. Rescue operations are underway in the affected areas, with the most severe damage reported in Surankote of Poonch, where a house was buried by a landslide. Two bodies were recovered from the site, while six people remain unaccounted for. Several others died as homes collapsed or they drowned in floodwaters.

In Rajouri town, floodwaters entered residential areas, forcing hundreds of residents to move to safer locations. Numerous vehicles were swept away, causing extensive property damage. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cut short his Delhi visit to return to Jammu and oversee the situation, stating that the administration is prioritizing relief efforts for the victims.

The weather department has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir until July 23, raising concerns about further flooding and landslides in the region.

The US Department of Justice has announced a major international crackdown called 'Operation Hard Ball', aimed at dismantling Indian-run criminal networks operating across North America, Europe, and Asia. Conducted jointly by law enforcement agencies from the US, Canada, and Europe, the operation led to charges against 37 suspects and the arrest of 24 individuals from several countries. Authorities seized about one thousand kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine, along with heroin, weapons, and large sums of cash. The investigation identified three major syndicates based in India, including one allegedly controlled by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

The operation has reignited attention on the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, which had earlier triggered a diplomatic rift between India and Canada. A US federal indictment now accuses Bishnoi and his associate Goldy Brar of orchestrating the murder, indirectly implicating Indian networks but not the government itself. India has consistently denied involvement, calling such claims baseless.

The case has intensified scrutiny of alleged state-backed transnational repression, with Western governments expressing concern over cross-border targeting of dissidents. The outcome of ongoing legal proceedings may influence India’s global image and its relations with democratic allies.

A BJP leader has reignited controversy over the Taj Mahal by filing a petition claiming the monument was originally a Hindu temple. After a district court dismissed the plea, the petitioner approached the Allahabad High Court, which has issued notices to India’s central government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) seeking their stance on conducting a survey inside the monument’s basement. The petitioner alleges that remnants of a temple remain hidden in 22 sealed rooms beneath the structure.

Historians cited in the report, including Dr. Ruchika Sharma, reject such claims, emphasizing that all historical and architectural evidence confirms the Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. They note that similar theories trace back to writer P.N. Oak, whose assertions that the Taj was once a Shiva temple were dismissed by the Supreme Court and contradicted by ASI findings.

Dr. Sharma questioned the court’s renewed interest, arguing that the issue had already been legally settled and that reopening it risks undermining established historical consensus.

Indian social activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to Safdarjung Hospital in South Delhi on Saturday morning, the 21st day of his hunger strike. Delhi Police escorted him under tight security from the protest site after his health reportedly deteriorated. Supporters attempted to block the police during the transfer, creating brief tension at the scene.

Police stated that the move followed court orders and medical advice due to Wangchuk’s worsening condition. His wife, Geetanjali J Angmo, urged that nothing be administered to him without his consent, emphasizing his wish to continue the fast. Wangchuk began his indefinite hunger strike on June 28 in solidarity with the youth group Cockroach Janata Party, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) question paper leak scandal.

Earlier, a petition had been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking forced feeding of Wangchuk. The court directed authorities to closely monitor his health and intervene if necessary to protect his life.

Authorities have imposed a ban on prayers at the 136-year-old Gauripur Jama Masjid, located near the second runway of Kolkata Airport. The restriction led former state minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury to call for demonstrations on Friday. To maintain order, Section 163 was enforced in the airport area from Friday morning, with additional police and central forces deployed, along with water cannons.

The Bidhannagar Police announced through loudspeakers that gatherings of more than four people would not be allowed, warning of legal action for violations. Security forces have cordoned off the mosque’s entrance and surrounding areas, preventing any unauthorized assembly. The situation has created tension in nearby localities such as Birati and Bankra.

Airport authorities have claimed that the mosque’s location within the airport premises poses a risk to aircraft operations, which reportedly prompted the restriction on prayers.

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah began a three-day visit to West Bengal on July 17, 2026, to review security arrangements in the Siliguri corridor, a narrow stretch connecting mainland India to the northeastern states. His agenda includes meetings on border protection, prevention of illegal infiltration, and progress in constructing barbed-wire fencing along the India-Bangladesh border. Shah is also scheduled to visit the Jumagachh border outpost near Siliguri on Saturday.

The visit focuses on assessing security in the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ area, a 60-kilometer-long corridor located between Nepal and Bangladesh, with its narrowest section only 20 to 22 kilometers wide. The region holds strategic importance as it links India’s northeast to the rest of the country and lies close to the borders of China and Bhutan. During his stay, Shah will interact with Border Security Force personnel and inaugurate several development projects related to border safety.

High-level meetings will also address the current security situation along the India-Bangladesh border, underscoring the government’s emphasis on strengthening surveillance and infrastructure in this sensitive zone.