India 'cockroach' protests: video shows police firing pellet guns

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Delhi this week as part of India's so-called 'cockroach' protests, a youth-led movement demanding sweeping reforms to the country's education system. The nickname has become shorthand in local media for the loosely organized campaign, which has drawn students and young graduates frustrated with exam procedures, job scarcity and university governance.

Video footage circulating widely online shows police officers firing pellet guns toward crowds of protesters in central Delhi. Authorities have not issued a detailed public account of the circumstances surrounding the use of force, and the footage has been shared extensively on social media, prompting scrutiny of policing tactics at the demonstrations. No official casualty figures have been released.

The protests have persisted for several days despite the police response, with organizers vowing to continue until authorities commit to concrete changes. Officials in Delhi have not announced a timeline for addressing the demonstrators' demands, and it remains unclear whether the government will open formal talks with movement representatives in the coming days.