A sharp political and social confrontation erupted in Rajasthan’s Jaipur district on Friday after a team of volunteers from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was allegedly attacked while attempting to inspect a government school. The clash has further inflamed an already heated political row over the condition of state-run schools. Jantantra TV continues to track every development in this story through its Crime and Rajasthan sections.
Where and How the Clash Broke Out
The confrontation took place in Rampura Kanwarpura, in Jaipur district, where a CJP delegation led by co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka arrived to inspect a government school that, according to the party, has been operating out of a dilapidated buffalo shed for over a year. As soon as the team reached the school premises, a group of local residents already present at the spot got into a heated confrontation with them.
CJP alleges that the mob resorted to stone-pelting, beat volunteers with sticks, and vandalised their vehicles. Speaking to the media from the scene, Ranka called it a “pre-planned attack” and accused the police of standing by as mute spectators throughout the incident.
Volunteers Injured, Vehicles Damaged, Says CJP
Sanju, a member of the visiting CJP team, said that when they returned to check on the school’s condition, people already present at the site attacked them with sticks and stones. He said he was pushed to the ground and beaten, suffering a hand injury in the process.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke shared a photo on X of a car with a smashed window, alleging that Rajasthan Police allowed the attack to happen and that several volunteers, including women, were beaten and had their phones broken.
Row Over School Entry Restrictions Already Simmering
The clash comes days after Rajasthan’s Education Minister Madan Dilawar’s department issued a directive restricting the entry of outsiders into government school premises, along with curbs on photography, videography, and live streaming. The state government maintains the order is meant to safeguard student privacy and safety, while the opposition and CJP allege it is designed to hide the poor state of infrastructure in rural government schools — a controversy Jantantra TV has also flagged in its broader Education coverage of school safety issues.
The confrontation is part of CJP’s ongoing “School Thik Karo” campaign, under which volunteers across the country are visiting government schools to audit their facilities. The campaign has already triggered controversy in West Bengal, where a volunteer’s father was allegedly fatally attacked following a similar school inspection.
Villagers Deny Violence, Say They Were Protecting the School
Local residents of Rampura Kanwarpura, however, have presented a starkly different account. Villager Jugal Kishore Sharma claimed the CJP team arrived with 200–250 people and damaged their own vehicle, adding that ₹12 lakh has already been sanctioned by the local MLA for school repairs. He said locals opposed the visit because they feared outsiders were trying to demolish the structure.
Another resident, Anu Sharma, echoed this, saying there was only a “heated exchange,” not violence, and that villagers were worried about the fate of the 20-25 students currently studying at the school if the building were torn down.
Opposition Slams Government, Demands Action
The incident drew sharp reactions from Congress leaders in the state. Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully condemned the violence, alleging the government is trying to hide the poor condition of schools. Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra went further, alleging the attackers were not villagers but BJP workers acting on instructions “from the top.”
What Happens Next
CJP has demanded the arrest of the attackers within 48 hours and the withdrawal of the school-entry restriction order, warning that its protest could escalate into a broader movement targeting the education minister if its demands are not met. A police complaint has reportedly been filed, and further action is awaited.
Disclaimer: This report is based on early statements from the scene, accounts from those involved, and claims made by both sides. CJP’s version of events and the local villagers’ account differ sharply, and the complete picture is likely to emerge only once police investigate the matter fully. Jantantra TV will continue to update this story as more details become available.
