Photo: IANS
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), on Wednesday alleged that the mobile phones of protesters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar were being monitored, claiming that WhatsApp calls and chats were being surveilled as the group’s protest over alleged examination irregularities continued.
In a post on X, Dipke claimed that unnamed sources within the system had informed the organisation that its internal communications were being intercepted. "Sources within the system have informed us that our phones are under surveillance and that our WhatsApp calls and chats are being monitored. The sources told us the exact conversations word to word we had in the internal team," he wrote.
In a separate post, Dipke shared snippets from the 13th day of the protest, which continued despite heavy rain. He also posted a photograph of education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose indefinite hunger strike entered its fifth day on Thursday, the Times of India reported.
Earlier, Wangchuk had shared a health update, saying doctors had advised him to increase his intake of water and salt after detecting low blood pressure. He said his blood sugar level had dropped to 66 after several days without food but maintained that his condition was not yet life-threatening.
Wangchuk said he had lost around two kilograms during the fast, adding that such weight loss was expected during prolonged fasting. He remarked that his own discomfort was insignificant compared to the loss suffered by students and youths, referring to reported student suicides and deaths in Ladakh, while thanking supporters for standing with the movement.
Dipke also provided an update on Inesh, a student who had been on a hunger strike for eight days before being hospitalised after his health deteriorated. He said the student was recovering and that the team remained in contact with him.
Renewing his criticism of the Centre, Dipke argued that the movement had been fuelled by repeated examination controversies and the government's alleged failure to respond. He claimed that numerous paper leaks, shattered aspirations and student suicides had forced activists and young people to resort to hunger strikes in their demand for accountability.
The CJP launched its protest on June 20 over alleged irregularities in the examination system, including the NEET exam. According to Dipke, the campaign has since expanded to include broader demands for accountability, including concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.