‘Hit without provocation’: Ranchi woman who suffered ear injury during Sansad Chalo

['Abhimanyu Hazarika', 'Abhimanyu Hazarika Is A Senior Correspondent With The Indian Express', 'Based In Gurgaon. He Covers Southern Haryana.', 'Education - Post-Graduate Diploma In Print Media', 'Asian College Of Journalism', 'Class Of', '- B.A.', 'Hons', 'Liberal Arts With A Major In Political Science', 'Symbiosis School For Liberal Arts'] The Indian Express 2026-07-28 23:05:08

A 32-year-old woman, who sustained a severe ear injury on July 20 during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) Sansad Chalo march, has alleged that security forces fired at peaceful demonstrators demanding educational reforms to tackle the issue of paper leaks. Nootan Toppo, who works with a private firm in Gurgaon, joined the demonstration with two friends. According to Toppo, security personnel — including members of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and men in plain clothes carrying sticks, initiated an unprovoked lathi-charge on the crowd. “Several uniformed personnel were not wearing badges and men in civilian dress used abusive language against protesters. I had just taken a selfie moments before the firing started,” she claimed as she spoke to the Indian Express on Tuesday.