Human Rights Watch Condemns India's Excessive Force Against Student Protesters

NEW DELHI - Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Indian security forces of using excessive force to suppress largely peaceful student and youth protests in New Delhi on July 20, 2026, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration to promptly investigate what it described as "unnecessary and excessive use of force" .

The crackdown has drawn sharp international criticism, with Amnesty International also condemning the police response as a suppression of peaceful dissent .

Protests and Police Crackdown

The demonstrations, which began in June over the mishandling of medical entrance examinations, have since expanded to include grievances against unemployment and government corruption . The "Cockroach Janta Party," a Gen Z-led movement named after a Supreme Court chief justice's remark comparing unemployed youth to cockroaches, organized a march to parliament on July 20 .

According to HRW, security forces used batons and tear gas against demonstrators, with scores of people injured and one young woman protester in critical condition . Police claimed 118 of their personnel were also injured, while protesters rejected the police account, stating officers used force without provocation .

Witness Accounts of Brutality

HRW interviewed nine witnesses, including protest organizers, journalists, and student protesters, and verified 10 videos posted on social media . One photojournalist described the scene: "I have photos of protesters just standing there and the police beating them. I saw male police officers bashing up women. The women were entreating with folded hands and still police officers were beating them up" .

Protesters also reported being pushed into confined spaces, risking stampedes, and that security personnel, including plainclothes officers, targeted demonstrators .

Internet Shutdowns and Surveillance

Authorities suspended mobile internet services in central Delhi during the protests, a move HRW said hindered communication and emergency coordination . The government reportedly failed to make suspension orders public despite Supreme Court directions .

Broader Human Rights Concerns

Beyond the student protests, HRW's 2026 World Report documented systematic human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and across India, including suppression of dissent, unlawful demolitions, extrajudicial killings, and attacks on minorities . The report highlighted that India leads the world in internet shutdowns, with journalists and civil society increasingly targeted .

Political Fallout

Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, condemned the crackdown and called for the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan . The movement has become one of the most significant challenges to Prime Minister Modi's government in his third term .