The Delhi Lieutenant Governor has authorised the Delhi Police Commissioner to exercise the powers of a detaining authority under the National Security Act (NSA) for a period of three months. According to the order, the authorisation will remain in force from July 19, 2026, to October 18, 2026. During this period, the police commissioner will be empowered to issue detention orders under the provisions of the NSA.
Union minister JP Nadda on Thursday invited the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) for talks, but its leaders turned down the proposal, sources said.
On Wednesday too, the CJP had been invited for talks with Nadda, but it turned down the invitation, saying it will hold talks with the government only at a neutral venue.
According to a PTI source, "An invitation was sent to the CJP by J P Nadda for talks today, but those sitting on the stage at the protest site turned down the invitation."
Addressing a press briefing at Jantar Mantar, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said police informed the protesters on Thursday morning that Nadda had invited them to his residence.
"We refused to go to anyone's house or office. The people's court is here. Ministers should come among the people. If they want to talk, it should be held at the Jantar Mantar," Das said, adding that the CJP remained open to dialogue and would consider a neutral venue near the protest site if there were security concerns.
The first thought Ajay Duggal had when he saw his nephew, his eyes shut, his face, neck and chest pockmarked with tiny red perforations, was this: "What if the 19-year-old loses his sight completely."
Sahil Lochab was allegedly hit by a pellet gun in his right eye during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in Delhi on July 20. His uncle asked him what he could see from the eye.
The reply chilled him - there was nothing. No blur, no haze, only darkness.
"Sahil said he was hit directly in his eye. From what we have been told, another operation involving the pupil will determine whether his vision will return," Duggal told PTI.
Sahil has undergone one surgery to repair the injured eye and remove pellets and is awaiting another. The teen from Najafgarh was among the 60 protesters injured, according to Delhi Police estimates.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday expressed her support for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demonstrating against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, and described the agitation as a fight to safeguard the Constitution and democracy.
Addressing the protesters at the Jantar Mantar, Mehbooba praised the youth for enduring harsh weather conditions while demanding justice and transparency in the recruitment process, saying their struggle would discourage corruption, paper leaks and other injustices.
Calling it a defining moment for the country's youth, Mehbooba alleged that the nation witnessed increasing incidents of "divide and rule" politics, exam paper leaks, corruption and crimes against women over the past several years. "This is what we have seen in the country for the last 12 years: divide and rule. Sometimes 'chanda chori' (donations theft), sometimes paper leaks, sometimes rapes. Even cows are safer than children in our country today," she said.
The PDP chief also criticised the judiciary and the Centre, claiming that the concerns of the protesting students did not receive adequate attention despite their prolonged agitation.
"Our judiciary says 'we don't have time for that'. So, if these people don't stand up today against this brutality, against this injustice, I think our country will become worse than it was in 1947. A change has to happen... These people (youth) will bring it. If we need to save the Constitution, these people will do it," Mehbooba said.
Mehbooba also warned that if the Constitution is not saved today, those at the helm of affairs will turn the rest of the country into an "open jail", drawing a parallel to Jammu and Kashmir.
However, she expressed hope that the protesting youth will not bow down, and said the government should also refrain from messing with them as they are the "biggest power".
She also accused the government of displaying arrogance by failing to respond to the grievances of the protesters, many of whom, she said, have been camping at the protest site in extreme heat for several days.
"The power of the youth is the greatest power. This arrogance will not last long," Mehbooba said.
The Delhi Police claimed it has identified more than 480 Pakistan-based social media handles allegedly involved in spreading misinformation amid the Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Martar, saying the same accounts had been active during Operation Sindoor.
In a post on social media, a Delhi Police official said Pakistan-based social media handles were taking advantage of the prevailing situation to circulate rumours, fake posts and edited videos with the intent of instigating people, particularly students.
"We have noticed that misinformation is being circulated on various social media platforms. So far, we have identified over 480 Pakistani social media handles that are taking advantage of the current situation to spread rumours. We are getting these handles blocked. These are the same handles which were active during Operation Sindoor," the officer said.
The officer said the primary objective of these accounts is to spread misinformation and provoke people, especially students, by circulating unverified and misleading content online.