New Delhi: The youth’s anger over the incumbent government’s apparent indifference to deep-rooted irregularities with the national education system, that have perpetuated hardships and agony for millions of students over the last few months, is no longer constrained to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.As student delegation and the centre hold another round of talks, with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) standing firm on its demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, the last two days have witnessed massive youth protests across the country.Solidarity marches have erupted across almost all major metropolitan hubs, with the police cracking down indiscriminately on peaceful protesters.In Maharashra, cases pile upProtesters gathered in large numbers outside Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar, Mumbai, to raise slogans against Pradhan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Mumbai Police detained over 150 protesters and registered two new first information reports for violating the prohibitory orders on Thursday (July 23), pushing the total number of FIRs linked to the movement to 17. The FIRs have reportedly been lodged since July 18 under sections varying from unlawful assembly to breach of prohibitory orders.Youth protests in the country’s financial capital made national and international headlines after a 27-year-old woman, Rhiya Yadav, fearlessly stood in front of a police van carrying detained protestors on July 22, obstructing its passage. An earlier report by The Wire, details her story and its implications for the movement.Rhiya Yadav standing in front of a Mumbai Police van carrying detained protesters on July 22. Photo: Instagram/@rhiyaahir/@mishra_sohit.As per a report by Indian Express, the Nagpur Police also detained more than 150 police on Thursday (July 23) near Samvidhan Square. Roughly 35 protesters are said to have been detained the night before for allegedly overstaying the permitted protest hours.In Bihar, protesters dance under water canons even as they face batonsThe protesters’ refusal to back down in the face of police brutality and still remaining jubilant in their resistance is a testament to the ongoing movement’s idiosyncrasy. This defiant enthusiasm portrayed by clips of students in Patna dancing under water cannons, riding barricades and mockingly demanding the security forces for tear gas that have taken over the internet.However, student protests assumed a much more serious nature in several other parts of the state. As per The Hindu, security personnel resorted to lathi charge after protesters allegedly started pelting stones in Katihar and Begusarai.Patna: Police personnel use a water cannon on All India Students’ Association (AISA) activists during a protest march near Lok Bhavan demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, in Patna, Bihar, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Photo: PTI.The police filed cases against over 600 unidentified people for vandalising public property and for participating in a march on Wednesday (July 22) where allegedly several police officers were injured. More than 40 students have been detained in Patna alone, where members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA) have extended their support to the movement.In Chennai, protesters demand scrapping NEET itselfAccording to the Hindu, protesters in Chennai sought not only Pradhan’s removal, but also the complete scrapping of NEET.Several youth organisations showed their support to the national protests. CJP-Tamil Nadu and All India Students Federation (AISF) protested outside the office of Communist Party of India, while the Neelam Student Movement held an independent demonstration.Chennai: Members of Students’ Federation of India (SFI) Presidency College unit hold placards during a protest at the campus premises demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Friday, July 24, 2026. Photo: PTI/R Senthilkumar.The Democratic Youth Federation of India, the Student Federation of India (SFI) and over 500 students of New College at Royapettah have since joined the cause.In Kerala, marches see state repressionThe state observed some of the most brutal state backlash this week. The SFI-led protest marches saw police violence in several districts, with the police generously using water cannon and tear gas to disperse the unarmed crowd, reported the Hindu.Thiruvananthapuram: Police use water cannons to disperse AISF and AIYF activists during a protest march towards the Kerala Assembly against the implementation of the PM SHRI project in the state, in Thiruvananthapuram, Monday, June 22, 2026. Photo: PTI.Marches were held in Kochi, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kannur. Protesters in Kasaragod clashed directly with police, deepening the chasm between the protesting youth and the state machinery.In Kolkata, ‘cockroaches’ took to the streetsKolkata witnessed a large student mobilisation on Friday (July 24) as Left student organisations marched from Sealdah to Dharmatala. Several other student groups and supporters, denied permission to hold separate rallies, joined the procession. Among them were protesters identifying themselves as Kolkata’s “Cockroaches,” after the police denied permission for their planned march.Sporting Batman masks and satirical posters, general students joined in droves, completely gridlocking Kolkata from Sealdah to Taltala.Student rally in Kolkata on Friday, July 23, 2026. Photo: By arrangement.In response to the mounting tension and slogans, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari issued a stern warning. “Democratic rights to slogan are protected, but anti-national chants like ‘Azadi’ will face immediate action. I will uproot anti-national forces from Bengal,” Adhikari boasted.The RSS also reportedly mobilised across the state to address the crisis. Sangh-affiliated organisations, including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and Vidya Bharati, launched coordinated district rallies, with plans for a major central rally in Kolkata soon.In Andhra Pradesh, police stop the ‘Chalo Lok Bhavan’ marchThe “Chalo Lok Bhawan” march organised by students and youth outfits turned serious after the police intercepted it midway.As per reports, the undeterred protesters announced that proposed bandh (closing) of educational institutions planned for Friday (July 24) would be intensified and pledged that the agitation would persevere in phases under Pradhan steps down.Thus, Thursday’s (July 23) crackdown seemed to have hardened their resolve rather than discouraging participation.In Uttar Pradesh, Bhim Army is stoppedWhen Bhim Army activists’ attempt to march towards the governor’s residence in Lucknow was thwarted by the police, the interaction reportedly turned violent. In Prayagraj, the Sanyukt Chhatra Manch’s own “Chalo Lok Bhawan” march led to a brief face-off with the police as well, reported the Hindu.Activists of different student organisations and ASHA workers raise slogans during a protest against the action on protestors in New Delhi and in support of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Thursday, July 23, 2026. Photo: PTI.Protests were also reported in several other parts of the state, including Ghazipur, Varanasi, Ballia and Azamgarh. When millions of people from its most communally-charged state speak up against an openly pro-Hindutva government, it indicates how deeply the outrage has seeped across the country.In Himachal and Haryana, organisations extend supportAccording to the Hindu report, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and social activists in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, condemned the Delhi Police’s handling of the protests. AAP’s Chandigarh unit also extended its support to the then-fasting climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, echoing the demand for Pradhan’s resignation.Youths, farmers and activists of various social organisations stage a demonstration against against the Delhi Police crackdown on protestors demanding resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak issue, in Kaithal district, Haryana, Friday, July 24, 2026, Photo: PTI.In Haryana’s Kurukshetra, the Jan Sangharsh Manch Haryana and Students’ Organisation for Socialist Democracy activists took to the streets, with leaders of major Khap Panchayats supporting the cause as well. In Jind, the district bar association suspended work for a day in solidarity with the protesting students.In Bengaluru, placards and candles fill Freedom ParkHundreds of students, parents, working professionals and activists came together in Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Thursday (July 23) night to express solidarity with the people protesting in the national capital.The demonstration was organised by the Dalit Sangharsha Samithi (DSS) and drew backing from AISA, the All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO), AAP and the Bengaluru Navanirmana Party (BNP).Protesters lit candles and held up phone torches in a quiet gesture of solidarity, all the while displaying clever placards calling for accountability. As per the Hindu, one placard, held up by a child sitting on her father’s shoulders, read, “Dharmendra uncle, please get up from the chair. I want a better education system.”Photo: X.Another placard, raised by a pregnant woman, said, “Pregnancy craving: Accountability.”Photo: Instagram.In North-East, students united across state linesStudent bodies including the All Assam Students’ Union, the All Assam Minority Students’ Union and the All Assam Tribal Students’ Union united with students, activists and political leaders in Guwahati rallying under CJP’s banner to demand education reforms.All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) members stage a candlelight protest in support of activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike, in Guwahati, Assam, Sunday, July 19, 2026. Photo:PTI.Meanwhile, the BJP’s Assam unit, reportedly organised a counter-protest in the district against the Congress’s sit-in outside the Prime Minister’s residence in Delhi.Rallies were also taken out in Arunachal Pradesh’s Itanagar, Meghalaya’s Shillong and Mizoram’s Aizawl.