The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is under investigation by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Mumbai Police after allegations surfaced that children were used as a 'shield' during a recent protest. The NHRC has urged the police to register an FIR, citing concerns over potential violations of child protection laws, while the Mumbai Police have already filed an FIR against the organizers for unlawful assembly. The protest, led by Abhijeet Dipke, was aimed at demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner due to alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions. The NHRC's intervention includes directing the IT ministry and X for social media monitoring and instructing the Maharashtra Women and Child Development Department to ensure the safety of the involved children. This situation highlights serious concerns regarding the exploitation of minors in public demonstrations and the adherence to legal provisions protecting children.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is under investigation by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Mumbai Police after allegations surfaced that children were used as a 'shield' during a recent protest. The NHRC has urged the police to register an FIR, citing concerns over potential violations of child protection laws, while the Mumbai Police have already filed an FIR against the organizers for unlawful assembly. The protest, led by Abhijeet Dipke, was aimed at demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner due to alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions. The NHRC's intervention includes directing the IT ministry and X for social media monitoring and instructing the Maharashtra Women and Child Development Department to ensure the safety of the involved children. This situation highlights serious concerns regarding the exploitation of minors in public demonstrations and the adherence to legal provisions protecting children.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is under investigation by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Mumbai Police after allegations surfaced that children were used as a 'shield' during a recent protest. The NHRC has urged the police to register an FIR, citing concerns over potential violations of child protection laws, while the Mumbai Police have already filed an FIR against the organizers for unlawful assembly. The protest, led by Abhijeet Dipke, was aimed at demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner due to alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions. The NHRC's intervention includes directing the IT ministry and X for social media monitoring and instructing the Maharashtra Women and Child Development Department to ensure the safety of the involved children. This situation highlights serious concerns regarding the exploitation of minors in public demonstrations and the adherence to legal provisions protecting children.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is facing fresh trouble over the protest in Mumbai on Friday after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) urged the city police commissioner to register an FIR over allegations that children were involved in the demonstration.

The CJP, led by Abhijeet Dipke, organised the protest at Shivaji Park in Mumbai seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo said the commission received a complaint alleging that plans were made on a WhatsApp group to bring children to the protest so they could be used as a “shield” in the event of police or administrative action.

The complaint named CJP founder Dipke, Saurav Das and Ajinkya Shinde.

Kanoongo said the NHRC examined the complaint and found that the complainant had submitted sufficient evidence to show that such plans had allegedly been discussed earlier in WhatsApp groups.

“We received a complaint that in Mumbai, a conspiracy was organised on a WhatsApp group to invite children to participate in the illegal protest of an organisation called Cockroach Janata Party,” Kanoongo said, according to news agency ANI.

He said the allegation was that children would be brought forward if authorities acted against the protest.

The NHRC member further claimed that videos circulating from the protest showed children being used as shields. He said Indian law does not permit children to be used in illegal activities and cited Sections 83(II) and 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

The commission has directed the Mumbai Police Commissioner to register an FIR under appropriate provisions and take action against those concerned, Kanoongo said.

The NHRC took cognizance under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, following a complaint concerning the alleged involvement of minors in the protest and the circulation of their photographs and videos on social media.

The complaint was filed by Satish Vaid, Head of Intervention at Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation, and was considered by a bench presided over by Kanoongo.

According to the complaint, social media material allegedly showed a child being held above a crowd as provocative slogans were raised.

It also alleged that the participation of minors had been discussed in advance through groups or chats and raised concerns that their status as children may have been deliberately used to prevent lawful police action.

The NHRC has also issued directions to the IT ministry and X. The Maharashtra Women and Child Development Department has been instructed to ensure the safety and protection of the children involved.

The NHRC intervention comes after Mumbai Police registered an FIR against the organisers and 400-500 unidentified people over the October 2 protest at Shivaji Park.

The case was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Maharashtra Police Act for alleged unlawful assembly, wilful disobedience of a lawful order issued by a public servant and other offences.

Police said no arrests had been made and further investigation was underway.