The national capital has seen heavy clashes between Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters and Delhi Police personnel even as activist Sonam Wangchuk continued his hunger strike to demand educational reform.
CJP protest in Delhi: Pictures show you what happened on July 20, 2026
The area around Janpath station of the Delhi Metro saw widespread protests, on July 20, along with repeated lathi-charge by the Delhi Police.
While on the site on July 20, 2026, The Hindu came across a petrol pump. A Bharat Petroleum fuel station. The signs of violence were visible.
View of the petrol pump. (June 20, 7:21 PM)
| Photo Credit:
Akul Baiju
On July 21, 2026, The Hindu visited the spot again. The shattered glass still existed. The pump is also a vehicle detailing studio and a coffee shop owned by Siddharth and Sarvgun Puri (names changed). The incident happened two days before the inauguration of their store.
View from the petrol pump 5.52 p.m. IST on June 20, 2026
| Photo Credit:
Akul Baiju
Upon being asked for proof, Mr. Siddharth, 30, pulled up CCTV videos on his phone.
CJP’s ‘night vigil’ at Jantar Mantar: In pictures
He said that the violence “started at 6:28 p.m.” and till then they were “providing first aid” to all, along with “washroom services”. Siddharth says “till 5:30-6 p.m.” it was all “peaceful”.
CCTV footage of the petrol pump at 2.22 p.m. IST on June 20, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
Akul Baiju
Within four hours, the scene had changed.
CCTV footage from the police pump at 6:28. p.m. Police personnel seen heading into the petrol pump.
| Photo Credit:
Akul Baiju
The Hindu asked the owners if they had reached out to the police. Mr. Siddharth said that they had gone to file an FIR, and was provided with the number of the investigating officer (IO). He added that he will now file an “online FIR”.
One person against the violence
After talking to the employees of the petrol pump who were present at the site during the incident, The Hindu found out that when the chaos began, all of them sought safety and shelter.
Except one woman.
S., 40, was the only one who did not run. This was corroborated by her colleagues.
The 40-year-old who tried to stop violence (Face hidden to protect identity)
| Photo Credit:
Akul Baiju
CCTV footage shows S. trying to stop the protesters with both her hands up. (6.29 p.m., July 20, 2026)
| Photo Credit:
Akul Baiju
“Bache protest kar rhe the. Police ne unpar lathi charge kar diya. Bache idhar udhar bhaage, (Kids were protesting, the police lathi-charged on them. Kids ran here and there),” she says.
“Kuch bache thak chuke the toh woh baith gaye. (Some kids were tired, and they sat down),” she says pointing to a spot on the ground inside the petrol pump.
“Police jab andar aayi hai lathi charge karti hui aur unhone yahan bhi bachon ko maarna shuru kara toh woh udhar bhaag gaye. Aur jab udhar se saare bache aaye bhaage hue, jahan se bhi laaye the pathar toh police vaale idhar bhaage hain”(pointing towards inside the pump premises (When the police came inside doing lathi charge, they also started beating up the kids. So(kids) ran. When the kids brought back stones from wherever they had procured, that is when the police personnel ran here).”
“Woh pathar unke maar rhe the woh, lekin woh phir achanak yahan bhi lag gye. (They were throwing stones at them but it also hit here),” says S. while recounting how the window pane got broken by stones thrown by the protesters.
They were meant for the police personnel and inadvertently hit the window panes of the pump, she adds.
“Mein toh wahin khadi ho kar rokti rahi. Baaki toh sab chup hi gaye the, lekin merse nahin jaaya gaya ki bachein hain kahin gir pad ke lag na jaaye. Vaise hi itni chote khaa chuke hain woh. (I kept standing there and stopping them. Everyone else had already hidden, but I could not leave because they are kids; they might get hurt after falling. They had already suffered such wounds).”
S. shows the medicines she carries in her pockets. (July 21, 2026)
| Photo Credit:
Akul Baiju
“Ab mein medicines rakhti hoon apne saath (I keep medicines with myself),” says S., a day after the incident. She shows The Hindu the medicines that she carries in her pocket and the ones she says that she used to “treat the kids”.
Upon being asked the reason for her courage against bipartisan violence. S. replied with just one sentence.
“Kyunki mein maa hoon. Mere bhi do bache hain. (I also have two kids. Because I am a mother).”
Published – July 22, 2026 12:02 am IST
