Police trapped us and started hitting us: TV actor Sehban Azim on CJP protest

Actor Sehban Azim has alleged that he was injured during the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest in Delhi, claiming he was hit by police while trying to protect two women accompanying him. The actor also accused the police of using force against peaceful protesters, including students and women.Speaking to Mid-day, Sehban said he had joined the protest in support of students. He claimed he sustained injuries while shielding two female friends who had travelled with him from Mumbai.Sharing his account, Azim said, "It was an extremely heartbreaking sight to witness. I went for the protest to support the students and my two female friends from Mumbai had also come. I got hit while I was saving them from the lathi there. My hand has been swollen. They hit me a few times on my arm, legs and all."According to Azim, protesters were stopped before they could reach the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar. He alleged that the police had put up barricades around the area and then launched the lathicharge. "We didn't even get to reach inside Jantar Mantar where the protest was actually happening. The police had put barricades all around and trapped us in the middle and started hitting us. They weren't even bothered who they were hitting, be it young kids, women, nobody," he claimed. The actor further alleged that the police action was deliberate and aimed at forcing the protesters to disperse. He claimed that the lathicharge appeared to be intentional and was carried out to drive everyone away from the area.Azim also spoke about the students who had travelled long distances to take part in the protest. He said many of them had made difficult journeys and endured hardship to be there. "My heart goes out to the kids who had come for the protest. Some had travelled for days through trains and buses. They didn't even have proper shoes to wear. Some were quite poor and couldn't afford anything beyond chappals. A few of them even fought with their parents to come for the protest and voice their opinions," he said. Claiming that several protesters were injured, Azim alleged that many had been brutally beaten by the police. He claimed that several people were left bleeding, adding that many young protesters stood their ground despite the alleged assault.Azim also highlighted the financial struggles faced by many students, saying education remained difficult to access for those from weaker economic backgrounds. He claimed that many students come from financially unstable families and are forced to take loans to complete their education. Alleging that such scams have only made matters worse, he said education should be a right rather than something that feels like a distant dream.- EndsPublished By: shweta keshriPublished On: Jul 22, 2026 10:47 IST