The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) launched the 'Sakshi' digital portal to collect evidence regarding a police crackdown on July 20 [1].
The initiative aims to create a public record of alleged police excesses to support legal action and pressure the Indian government to drop charges against those involved in the protests.
The Sakshi portal is designed to gather various forms of documentation, including photographs, videos, and testimonies [1]. By crowdsourcing this data, the CJP intends to build a comprehensive archive of the events that occurred on July 20 [1]. The party said it will use these materials to pursue legal remedies for those affected by the crackdown.
Beyond the collection of evidence, the CJP is focused on the legal status of the protesters and organizers. The party is seeking a written agreement from the government to withdraw First Information Reports, known as FIRs, that were filed following the demonstrations [1].
"We will pursue legal action over alleged police excesses," a CJP spokesperson said [2].
The party indicated that negotiations regarding the legal charges are already underway. The spokesperson said, "We have an understanding with the government on withdrawing FIRs against protesters and organisers, and we are awaiting a written agreement" [2].
The CJP has not specified a deadline for the government's response or the portal's operation. However, the move signals a strategy to use digital documentation to challenge official narratives of the July 20 events [1].
“"We will pursue legal action over alleged police excesses."”
The launch of the Sakshi portal represents a shift toward digital evidence gathering by political entities in India to hold law enforcement accountable. By creating a centralized repository of citizen-led documentation, the CJP is attempting to bypass official police reports to create a counter-narrative that can be used in court to secure the release of detained protesters.
