July 26, 2026

Mohammad Ali Jauhar University campus in Rampur. NEW DELHI: Targeting Yogi Adityanath over the proposed demolition of 38 buildings at senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan’s Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said the Uttar Pradesh chief minister should “take a lesson from Jantar Mantar.”The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president was referring to the youth-led protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, which led to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged NEET (UG) question paper leak and other education-related issues.”Destroying an institution of learning like Jauhar University displays nothing but hatred and vengeance. Yogi should take a lesson from Jantar Mantar and see how the youth of this country are rejecting the politics of hate and division. CJP Jantar Mantar Protest UpdatesDharmendra Pradhan resigns as Union education minister amid massive student protests’We won’t go’: CJP’s Dipke says protests to continue till all demands metFresh clashes at Jantar Mantar after Pradhan’s exit; tear gas fired, stones peltedStand with the protesting students,” she wrote on X.Mufti was responding to a post by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who said that the party’s MPs and MLAs were taking part in a protest by students seeking to “save” Jauhar University in Rampur.”The ‘Protect Education’ movement will also triumph! To encourage the students who have sat on a dharna to save Jauhar University in Rampur, our MPs and MLAs are participating,” Yadav wrote in his post.Questioning the Uttar Pradesh government’s stand, he asked why the constructions at Jauhar University could not be regularised when similar structures were allegedly regularised through administrative orders.”If the BJP government can regularise other constructions based on the UP government’s administrative order, then why not Jauhar University? Why this discrimination and malice against Jauhar University?” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister asked.The SP has demanded that the proposed demolition be halted, alleging that the move would adversely impact the future of students.”Our collective demand is that the BJP should not throw the future of our youth into the fire of its vengeance,” Yadav stated.The remarks come amid a proposed demolition drive at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University after the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) ordered the removal of 38 allegedly unauthorised buildings on the campus.The RDA issued a notice to the Jauhar Trust, which runs the university, on June 28, alleging that 82,309.80 square metres of construction within the campus had been carried out illegally. According to the authority, 38 blocks were built without approved building maps, while only two structures had received prior permission from the District Panchayat.The authority alleged that the secretary of the Jauhar Trust failed to submit approval documents within the stipulated period. It granted the trust an additional 15 days to remove the 38 structures, warning that demolition proceedings would be initiated if it failed to comply.The demolition order was issued by the RDA vice-chairman, who also serves as the Rampur District Magistrate, under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Drain Tragedy: 20-Year-Old US Student Dies After Car Plunges Into DrainKargil Vijay Diwas 2026: How Operation Vijay Transformed India’s Military And Defence Strategy3 Arrested In Assam As STF Cracks Down On Alleged Pakistan-Linked Sleeper Cell NetworkDelhi Approves Rs 6,970-Crore Tunnel Corridor To Cut Airport, Mahipalpur Traffic‘Time To Go Home’: CJP Removes Stage, Urges Protesters To Leave Jantar Mantar’Don’t Waste This Energy On One Resignation’: Yogendra Yadav On CJP Future, ‘Police Brutality’RSS Loyalist Pralhad Joshi Appointed As India’s New Education Minister Hours After Pradhan’s ExitPost Protest, Volunteers Launch Cleanliness Drive At Jantar Mantar’Wangchuk, Dipke Joined AISA’s Protest’: Harsh Dubey On NEET, Reservation, Jantar Mantar ProtestJantar Mantar Erupts In Celebration As Pradhan Resigns, Delhi Metro Reopens All Station Gates123PhotostoriesThinking of dating a coworker? 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Mohammad Ali Jauhar University campus in Rampur. NEW DELHI: Targeting Yogi Adityanath over the proposed demolition of 38 buildings at senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan’s Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said the Uttar Pradesh chief minister should “take a lesson from Jantar Mantar.”The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president was referring to the youth-led protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, which led to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged NEET (UG) question paper leak and other education-related issues.”Destroying an institution of learning like Jauhar University displays nothing but hatred and vengeance. Yogi should take a lesson from Jantar Mantar and see how the youth of this country are rejecting the politics of hate and division. CJP Jantar Mantar Protest UpdatesDharmendra Pradhan resigns as Union education minister amid massive student protests’We won’t go’: CJP’s Dipke says protests to continue till all demands metFresh clashes at Jantar Mantar after Pradhan’s exit; tear gas fired, stones peltedStand with the protesting students,” she wrote on X.Mufti was responding to a post by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who said that the party’s MPs and MLAs were taking part in a protest by students seeking to “save” Jauhar University in Rampur.”The ‘Protect Education’ movement will also triumph! To encourage the students who have sat on a dharna to save Jauhar University in Rampur, our MPs and MLAs are participating,” Yadav wrote in his post.Questioning the Uttar Pradesh government’s stand, he asked why the constructions at Jauhar University could not be regularised when similar structures were allegedly regularised through administrative orders.”If the BJP government can regularise other constructions based on the UP government’s administrative order, then why not Jauhar University? Why this discrimination and malice against Jauhar University?” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister asked.The SP has demanded that the proposed demolition be halted, alleging that the move would adversely impact the future of students.”Our collective demand is that the BJP should not throw the future of our youth into the fire of its vengeance,” Yadav stated.The remarks come amid a proposed demolition drive at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University after the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) ordered the removal of 38 allegedly unauthorised buildings on the campus.The RDA issued a notice to the Jauhar Trust, which runs the university, on June 28, alleging that 82,309.80 square metres of construction within the campus had been carried out illegally. According to the authority, 38 blocks were built without approved building maps, while only two structures had received prior permission from the District Panchayat.The authority alleged that the secretary of the Jauhar Trust failed to submit approval documents within the stipulated period. It granted the trust an additional 15 days to remove the 38 structures, warning that demolition proceedings would be initiated if it failed to comply.The demolition order was issued by the RDA vice-chairman, who also serves as the Rampur District Magistrate, under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Drain Tragedy: 20-Year-Old US Student Dies After Car Plunges Into DrainKargil Vijay Diwas 2026: How Operation Vijay Transformed India’s Military And Defence Strategy3 Arrested In Assam As STF Cracks Down On Alleged Pakistan-Linked Sleeper Cell NetworkDelhi Approves Rs 6,970-Crore Tunnel Corridor To Cut Airport, Mahipalpur Traffic‘Time To Go Home’: CJP Removes Stage, Urges Protesters To Leave Jantar Mantar’Don’t Waste This Energy On One Resignation’: Yogendra Yadav On CJP Future, ‘Police Brutality’RSS Loyalist Pralhad Joshi Appointed As India’s New Education Minister Hours After Pradhan’s ExitPost Protest, Volunteers Launch Cleanliness Drive At Jantar Mantar’Wangchuk, Dipke Joined AISA’s Protest’: Harsh Dubey On NEET, Reservation, Jantar Mantar ProtestJantar Mantar Erupts In Celebration As Pradhan Resigns, Delhi Metro Reopens All Station Gates123PhotostoriesThinking of dating a coworker? These 8 rules can save your relationship and your career“Talk to your baby as if they understand you”: Pediatrician shares 5 simple habits that may support your baby’s brain development5 natural foods that can kill cockroaches instantlyAriana Grande, Celine Dion, Katy Perry and more: Musicians who slammed the White House over unauthorised use of their songsInside Krushna Abhishek’s lavish Mumbai home: A massive living room, elegant interiors and moreIran ended visa-free entry for Indians, and it wasn’t the only country to tighten travel rules in 2026; three more countries quietly followed8 Plants that quietly attract sunbirds to Indian balconies5 relationship lessons people often learn only after heartbreakWhat happens when you knead roti dough with hot water and salt? 3 secrets to keep rotis soft for hoursWhy do some cheeses have holes while others don’t?123Hot PicksSchool holiday todayDelhi metroCJP ProtestMumbai rainGujarat RainAIIMS notificationNEET paper controversyAAI recruitment 2026Caitline ClarkTop TrendingMP NEET Arpirant RapeNEET Paper LeakCJP Protester AssaultedKerala IPS Ajith Kumar SuspensionAssam Flood DeathsDelhi Metro Stations ClosedMumbai ProtestUP Amroha WeddingHarbhajan singhIND U19 vs Sri Lanka U19


'Take lesson from Jantar Mantar': Mehbooba Mufti hits out at Yogi Adityanath over demolition order for Jauhar University buildings
Mohammad Ali Jauhar University campus in Rampur.

NEW DELHI: Targeting Yogi Adityanath over the proposed demolition of 38 buildings at senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan’s Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said the Uttar Pradesh chief minister should “take a lesson from Jantar Mantar.”The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president was referring to the youth-led protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, which led to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged NEET (UG) question paper leak and other education-related issues.“Destroying an institution of learning like Jauhar University displays nothing but hatred and vengeance. Yogi should take a lesson from Jantar Mantar and see how the youth of this country are rejecting the politics of hate and division.

CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates

Stand with the protesting students,” she wrote on X.Mufti was responding to a post by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who said that the party’s MPs and MLAs were taking part in a protest by students seeking to “save” Jauhar University in Rampur.“The ‘Protect Education’ movement will also triumph! To encourage the students who have sat on a dharna to save Jauhar University in Rampur, our MPs and MLAs are participating,” Yadav wrote in his post.Questioning the Uttar Pradesh government’s stand, he asked why the constructions at Jauhar University could not be regularised when similar structures were allegedly regularised through administrative orders.“If the BJP government can regularise other constructions based on the UP government’s administrative order, then why not Jauhar University? Why this discrimination and malice against Jauhar University?” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister asked.The SP has demanded that the proposed demolition be halted, alleging that the move would adversely impact the future of students.“Our collective demand is that the BJP should not throw the future of our youth into the fire of its vengeance,” Yadav stated.The remarks come amid a proposed demolition drive at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University after the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) ordered the removal of 38 allegedly unauthorised buildings on the campus.The RDA issued a notice to the Jauhar Trust, which runs the university, on June 28, alleging that 82,309.80 square metres of construction within the campus had been carried out illegally. According to the authority, 38 blocks were built without approved building maps, while only two structures had received prior permission from the District Panchayat.The authority alleged that the secretary of the Jauhar Trust failed to submit approval documents within the stipulated period. It granted the trust an additional 15 days to remove the 38 structures, warning that demolition proceedings would be initiated if it failed to comply.The demolition order was issued by the RDA vice-chairman, who also serves as the Rampur District Magistrate, under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973.



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What are MP’s chita protests? Ken-Betwa row explainedWhat are MP’s chita protests? Ken-Betwa row explainedWhat are MP’s chita protests? Ken-Betwa row explainedWhat are MP’s chita protests? Ken-Betwa row explainedWhat are MP’s chita protests? Ken-Betwa row explained12 NEW DELHI: They first stood in the river. Then they lay beside funeral pyres. When that, too, failed to draw a response, they climbed symbolic gallows.Over the past month, the ‘Chita Andolan’ in Madhya Pradesh has transformed an otherwise local land acquisition dispute into one of the country’s most striking protest movements, that was forcefully ended by the administration, citing threats to protesters due to rising water levels.Its haunting imagery, however, has thrown a spotlight on the repercussions that the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project, a flagship infrastructure initiative that promises water security for millions but has also triggered a fierce battle over compensation, will have on the locals, questioning the rehabilitation and the rights of tribal communities facing displacement.The movement gathered further attention after activist Amit Bhatnagar completed an 18-day hunger strike, insisting he had only suspended—not ended—his fast because “until the last person gets justice, the fast will continue.”CJP Jantar Mantar Protest UpdatesDharmendra Pradhan resigns as Union education minister amid massive student protests’We won’t go’: CJP’s Dipke says protests to continue till all demands metFresh clashes at Jantar Mantar after Pradhan’s exit; tear gas fired, stones peltedBhatnagar broke the hunger strike because villagers, especially women and children and 400 leading social activists from across the country, including Medha Patkar appealed to him since his health had started deteriorating. But it was the government’s assurance of a fresh survey to include the names of those left out from rehabilitation that changed his decision.Bhatnagar’s protest became the face of growing resistance to the ‘Ken-Betwa River Linking Project’, India’s first river-linking initiative under the National Perspective Plan. The Centre and the Madhya Pradesh government hail the project as a landmark intervention that will transform the drought-prone Bundelkhand region through irrigation, drinking water supply and power generation. But for thousands of tribal families living in its path, it has become a battle over land, forests, livelihoods and identity.Over the past month, villagers have staged some of the country’s most striking demonstrations. They stood waist-deep in river water in ‘Jal Satyagraha’, lay beside symbolic funeral pyres in the ‘Chita Andolan’ and even climbed symbolic gallows in a ‘Faansi Satyagraha’. Police eventually cleared the protest site on July 19, citing safety concerns due to rising water levels in the Barana river. Protesters alleged they were forcibly removed, while the administration maintained that the evacuation was necessary to prevent loss of life.The movement has revived questions India has wrestled with since the Narmada Bachao Andolan: Can large infrastructure projects be built without sacrificing the rights of the communities that bear their greatest costs? TIMELINE | Ken-Betwa ProjectA project decades in the makingThe Ken-Betwa Link Project has its origins in the National Perspective Plan for interlinking rivers proposed in 1980. After decades of planning, agreements and environmental clearances, the Union Cabinet approved the project in 2021, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid its foundation stone in December 2024.The project proposed to transfer what the government describes as surplus water from the Ken river to the Betwa river through the Daudhan Dam, tunnels and a 221-kilometre canal.The project is expected to irrigate 10.61 lakh hectares, providing drinking water to around 65 lakh people in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, generating 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power and reduce the chronic water scarcity that has plagued Bundelkhand for decades.Officials argue that it will boost agricultural productivity, reduce migration and improve groundwater recharge by restoring historical Chandela-era ponds.For supporters, however, it is a long-awaited solution to one of central India’s most persistent development challenges. The surplus water of Ken River will be transferred to Betwa River through the 221 km long link canal from Daudhan Dam, providing irrigation and drinking water facilities in both MP and UP.Why are people protesting?For many tribal families in Chhatarpur and Panna districts, the project threatens the loss of ancestral land without adequate rehabilitation.Bhatnagar says the issue extends far beyond compensation. “Our demand is that people should be given land in exchange for land. But even if the government only fulfils what it has committed, that much should at least be delivered.”He argues that tribal communities who depend on forests cannot rebuild their lives simply through financial assistance. “People who are being displaced from forests should either be resettled in forest areas or, at the very least, they should be given land and a village to live in. That has been our main demand from the beginning.”The state government had announced an in-principle increase in the rehabilitation package from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 12.5 lakh per eligible displaced family, with a formal notification expected.Bhatnagar, however, says the revised compensation alone does not solve the problem. “The way these people lived in forests and depended on the forest, simply giving them Rs 12.5 lakh is not enough.”He claims many displaced villagers have little experience navigating land markets and are vulnerable to exploitation. “Unscrupulous people are misleading them by offering fake land at cheap prices. They end up buying fake land or fake houses. Later they discover that the property itself was fraudulent. They lose both their money and then get trapped in legal disputes.” TIMELINE | CHITA ANDOLANOne of the biggest disagreements concerns the number of affected families. The government estimates that around 7,100 families are affected by the Ken-Betwa project. Bhatnagar disputes that figure.”In the Ken-Betwa project, the government says there are 7,100 affected families. But the actual number is around 10,000, in fact more than 10,000. If we talk about all the projects together, nearly 50,000 people have been affected.”He alleges that survey teams have excluded genuine beneficiaries. “The survey teams have included the names of many fake beneficiaries. For example, in one village where Rs 11 crore was sanctioned for housing compensation, Rs 8 crore went to fake beneficiaries, while only Rs 3 crore reached the actual villagers.”While the administration has rejected allegations of corruption, a fresh survey team was announced to identify families who may have been left out. TOI reached out to Chhatarpur district magistrate and is still awaiting a response from the administration. We will update the story accordingly.The govt’s fresh assurances made Bhatnagar suspend his hunger strike. “The administration did whatever it could from its side. It formed a new survey team for those people who had been left out. Our farmers’ organisation has also been included in that survey team so that the names of everyone who was left out can be properly verified.””We remain hopeful. But the officers and employees working for the government function very slowly. Their pens don’t move unless money is involved. We have faith in the government. But if the government does not do this, then our protest will continue,” he warned, despite being hopeful. The unique protest has drawn national attention.How the ‘Chita Andolan’ was bornPerhaps the most striking aspect of the movement has been its symbolism.The image of tribal families lying beside funeral pyres captured national attention and prompted comparisons with the Narmada Bachao Andolan’s iconic Jal Satyagrahas.Bhatnagar says the idea emerged after protesters felt every avenue of democratic dissent had been blocked. “Wherever we tried to protest, Section 144 notices were imposed. People were intimidated. When we were trying to go to Delhi, we were stopped, our vehicles fined, our entire stock of rations looted. We were stopped at several places.”He alleges that even after the movement got restricted to the villages, essential supplies were cut off. “Food and water were cut off. Water tankers were removed. Even the borewell that was supplying water was shut down. We were forced to drink river water.”Then came the thought that gave the protest its name.”If they are trying to kill us anyway, if our own government wants us to die, then let us light our own funeral pyre,” said Bhatnagar.As restrictions tightened, the forms of protest evolved.”There were other forms of protest too, like standing in the river. Then the Jal Satyagraha began. After that, they stopped our ration, food, medicines and even doctors from reaching us. Then they threatened us, saying they would hang us. So we ourselves climbed onto the gallows. That is how one form of protest after another kept evolving.”Why was the protest site clearedThe protest took another turn on July 19, when police dispersed demonstrators. Officials said continuous rainfall had raised the river level, making the site unsafe, and shifted Bhatnagar to hospital after his health deteriorated.Bhatnagar alleges that women were injured during the operation. “Women’s sarees were torn, many women lost their mangalsutras, and many people were injured. Naturally, there is a lot of anger among the people,” he said.Despite the anger, he insists the movement remains committed to non-violence.”We follow Gandhian principles and believe in democratic values. We do not want such things. Yes, there is tremendous anger. There is pain. Our effort is to maintain a balance between that pain and anger, and to ensure that people get justice through the right path,” he said.More than one projectWhile public attention has focused on the Ken-Betwa link, Bhatnagar says the movement also represents people affected by the Majhgaon and Runjh irrigation projects.”There are five such projects in Chhatarpur and Panna where the law has not been followed.”He says surveys have restarted only in a limited area. “Right now, this process has begun only in a small area, in 11 villages of the Chhatarpur project. The people of Panna district have not yet received any response.”The larger debateThe Ken-Betwa project has also faced criticism from environmental groups concerned about the impact of the Daudhan Dam on parts of the Panna Tiger Reserve. 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When that, too, failed to draw a response, they climbed symbolic gallows.Over the past month, the ‘Chita Andolan’ in Madhya Pradesh has transformed an otherwise local land acquisition dispute into one of the country’s most striking protest movements, that was forcefully ended by the administration, citing threats to protesters due to rising water levels.Its haunting imagery, however, has thrown a spotlight on the repercussions that the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project, a flagship infrastructure initiative that promises water security for millions but has also triggered a fierce battle over compensation, will have on the locals, questioning the rehabilitation and the rights of tribal communities facing displacement.The movement gathered further attention after activist Amit Bhatnagar completed an 18-day hunger strike, insisting he had only suspended—not ended—his fast because “until the last person gets justice, the fast will continue.”CJP Jantar Mantar Protest UpdatesDharmendra Pradhan resigns as Union education minister amid massive student protests’We won’t go’: CJP’s Dipke says protests to continue till all demands metFresh clashes at Jantar Mantar after Pradhan’s exit; tear gas fired, stones peltedBhatnagar broke the hunger strike because villagers, especially women and children and 400 leading social activists from across the country, including Medha Patkar appealed to him since his health had started deteriorating. But it was the government’s assurance of a fresh survey to include the names of those left out from rehabilitation that changed his decision.Bhatnagar’s protest became the face of growing resistance to the ‘Ken-Betwa River Linking Project’, India’s first river-linking initiative under the National Perspective Plan. The Centre and the Madhya Pradesh government hail the project as a landmark intervention that will transform the drought-prone Bundelkhand region through irrigation, drinking water supply and power generation. But for thousands of tribal families living in its path, it has become a battle over land, forests, livelihoods and identity.Over the past month, villagers have staged some of the country’s most striking demonstrations. They stood waist-deep in river water in ‘Jal Satyagraha’, lay beside symbolic funeral pyres in the ‘Chita Andolan’ and even climbed symbolic gallows in a ‘Faansi Satyagraha’. Police eventually cleared the protest site on July 19, citing safety concerns due to rising water levels in the Barana river. Protesters alleged they were forcibly removed, while the administration maintained that the evacuation was necessary to prevent loss of life.The movement has revived questions India has wrestled with since the Narmada Bachao Andolan: Can large infrastructure projects be built without sacrificing the rights of the communities that bear their greatest costs? TIMELINE | Ken-Betwa ProjectA project decades in the makingThe Ken-Betwa Link Project has its origins in the National Perspective Plan for interlinking rivers proposed in 1980. After decades of planning, agreements and environmental clearances, the Union Cabinet approved the project in 2021, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid its foundation stone in December 2024.The project proposed to transfer what the government describes as surplus water from the Ken river to the Betwa river through the Daudhan Dam, tunnels and a 221-kilometre canal.The project is expected to irrigate 10.61 lakh hectares, providing drinking water to around 65 lakh people in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, generating 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power and reduce the chronic water scarcity that has plagued Bundelkhand for decades.Officials argue that it will boost agricultural productivity, reduce migration and improve groundwater recharge by restoring historical Chandela-era ponds.For supporters, however, it is a long-awaited solution to one of central India’s most persistent development challenges. The surplus water of Ken River will be transferred to Betwa River through the 221 km long link canal from Daudhan Dam, providing irrigation and drinking water facilities in both MP and UP.Why are people protesting?For many tribal families in Chhatarpur and Panna districts, the project threatens the loss of ancestral land without adequate rehabilitation.Bhatnagar says the issue extends far beyond compensation. “Our demand is that people should be given land in exchange for land. But even if the government only fulfils what it has committed, that much should at least be delivered.”He argues that tribal communities who depend on forests cannot rebuild their lives simply through financial assistance. “People who are being displaced from forests should either be resettled in forest areas or, at the very least, they should be given land and a village to live in. That has been our main demand from the beginning.”The state government had announced an in-principle increase in the rehabilitation package from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 12.5 lakh per eligible displaced family, with a formal notification expected.Bhatnagar, however, says the revised compensation alone does not solve the problem. “The way these people lived in forests and depended on the forest, simply giving them Rs 12.5 lakh is not enough.”He claims many displaced villagers have little experience navigating land markets and are vulnerable to exploitation. “Unscrupulous people are misleading them by offering fake land at cheap prices. They end up buying fake land or fake houses. Later they discover that the property itself was fraudulent. They lose both their money and then get trapped in legal disputes.” TIMELINE | CHITA ANDOLANOne of the biggest disagreements concerns the number of affected families. The government estimates that around 7,100 families are affected by the Ken-Betwa project. Bhatnagar disputes that figure.”In the Ken-Betwa project, the government says there are 7,100 affected families. But the actual number is around 10,000, in fact more than 10,000. If we talk about all the projects together, nearly 50,000 people have been affected.”He alleges that survey teams have excluded genuine beneficiaries. “The survey teams have included the names of many fake beneficiaries. For example, in one village where Rs 11 crore was sanctioned for housing compensation, Rs 8 crore went to fake beneficiaries, while only Rs 3 crore reached the actual villagers.”While the administration has rejected allegations of corruption, a fresh survey team was announced to identify families who may have been left out. TOI reached out to Chhatarpur district magistrate and is still awaiting a response from the administration. We will update the story accordingly.The govt’s fresh assurances made Bhatnagar suspend his hunger strike. “The administration did whatever it could from its side. It formed a new survey team for those people who had been left out. Our farmers’ organisation has also been included in that survey team so that the names of everyone who was left out can be properly verified.””We remain hopeful. But the officers and employees working for the government function very slowly. Their pens don’t move unless money is involved. We have faith in the government. But if the government does not do this, then our protest will continue,” he warned, despite being hopeful. The unique protest has drawn national attention.How the ‘Chita Andolan’ was bornPerhaps the most striking aspect of the movement has been its symbolism.The image of tribal families lying beside funeral pyres captured national attention and prompted comparisons with the Narmada Bachao Andolan’s iconic Jal Satyagrahas.Bhatnagar says the idea emerged after protesters felt every avenue of democratic dissent had been blocked. “Wherever we tried to protest, Section 144 notices were imposed. People were intimidated. When we were trying to go to Delhi, we were stopped, our vehicles fined, our entire stock of rations looted. We were stopped at several places.”He alleges that even after the movement got restricted to the villages, essential supplies were cut off. “Food and water were cut off. Water tankers were removed. Even the borewell that was supplying water was shut down. We were forced to drink river water.”Then came the thought that gave the protest its name.”If they are trying to kill us anyway, if our own government wants us to die, then let us light our own funeral pyre,” said Bhatnagar.As restrictions tightened, the forms of protest evolved.”There were other forms of protest too, like standing in the river. Then the Jal Satyagraha began. After that, they stopped our ration, food, medicines and even doctors from reaching us. Then they threatened us, saying they would hang us. So we ourselves climbed onto the gallows. That is how one form of protest after another kept evolving.”Why was the protest site clearedThe protest took another turn on July 19, when police dispersed demonstrators. Officials said continuous rainfall had raised the river level, making the site unsafe, and shifted Bhatnagar to hospital after his health deteriorated.Bhatnagar alleges that women were injured during the operation. “Women’s sarees were torn, many women lost their mangalsutras, and many people were injured. Naturally, there is a lot of anger among the people,” he said.Despite the anger, he insists the movement remains committed to non-violence.”We follow Gandhian principles and believe in democratic values. We do not want such things. Yes, there is tremendous anger. There is pain. Our effort is to maintain a balance between that pain and anger, and to ensure that people get justice through the right path,” he said.More than one projectWhile public attention has focused on the Ken-Betwa link, Bhatnagar says the movement also represents people affected by the Majhgaon and Runjh irrigation projects.”There are five such projects in Chhatarpur and Panna where the law has not been followed.”He says surveys have restarted only in a limited area. “Right now, this process has begun only in a small area, in 11 villages of the Chhatarpur project. The people of Panna district have not yet received any response.”The larger debateThe Ken-Betwa project has also faced criticism from environmental groups concerned about the impact of the Daudhan Dam on parts of the Panna Tiger Reserve. Conservationists have questioned forest submergence and biodiversity loss, while the government says all necessary environmental clearances have been obtained and mitigation measures are in place.Ultimately, the dispute has become larger than one dam or one canal.It reflects a recurring question in India’s development journey: Can projects that promise benefits for millions be implemented without leaving displaced communities behind?For the government, the Ken-Betwa project is a blueprint for India’s future water security.For many tribal families living along the Barana river, it is a fight to ensure that development does not come at the cost of their homes, livelihoods and identity.As survey teams begin their work once again, the project’s success may ultimately depend not only on engineering but on whether the promises of rehabilitation and justice reach every family that stands to lose the most.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorNatasha SinghPrincipal Digital Content ProducerEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Don’t Cry Later’: Asaduddin Owaisi Makes Alliance Offer To Akhilesh Yadav To Oust BJP In UP PollsDelhi Drain Tragedy: 20-Year-Old US Student Dies After Car Plunges Into DrainKargil Vijay Diwas 2026: How Operation Vijay Transformed India’s Military And Defence Strategy3 Arrested In Assam As STF Cracks Down On Alleged Pakistan-Linked Sleeper Cell NetworkDelhi Approves Rs 6,970-Crore Tunnel Corridor To Cut Airport, Mahipalpur Traffic‘Time To Go Home’: CJP Removes Stage, Urges Protesters To Leave Jantar Mantar’Don’t Waste This Energy On One Resignation’: Yogendra Yadav On CJP Future, ‘Police Brutality’RSS Loyalist Pralhad Joshi Appointed As India’s New Education Minister Hours After Pradhan’s ExitPost Protest, Volunteers Launch Cleanliness Drive At Jantar Mantar’Wangchuk, Dipke Joined AISA’s Protest’: Harsh Dubey On NEET, Reservation, Jantar Mantar Protest123PhotostoriesWhy Red Wine should always be allowed to breathe before drinking—this is what happens inside the bottle and the glassThinking of dating a coworker? These 8 rules can save your relationship and your career“Talk to your baby as if they understand you”: Pediatrician shares 5 simple habits that may support your baby’s brain development5 natural foods that can kill cockroaches instantlyAriana Grande, Celine Dion, Katy Perry and more: Musicians who slammed the White House over unauthorised use of their songsInside Krushna Abhishek’s lavish Mumbai home: A massive living room, elegant interiors and moreIran ended visa-free entry for Indians, and it wasn’t the only country to tighten travel rules in 2026; three more countries quietly followed8 Plants that quietly attract sunbirds to Indian balconies5 relationship lessons people often learn only after heartbreakWhat happens when you knead roti dough with hot water and salt? 3 secrets to keep rotis soft for hours123Hot PicksSchool holiday todayDelhi metroCJP ProtestMumbai rainGujarat RainAIIMS notificationNEET paper controversyAAI recruitment 2026Caitline ClarkTop TrendingMP NEET Arpirant RapeNEET Paper LeakCJP Protester AssaultedKerala IPS Ajith Kumar SuspensionAssam Flood DeathsDelhi Metro Stations ClosedMumbai ProtestUP Amroha WeddingHarbhajan singhIND U19 vs Sri Lanka U19

Vamsikrishna 0
File photo: Justice Ujjwal Bhuyan NEW DELHI: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on Saturday questioned the criminalisation of ordinary activities while highlighting delays in granting relief to citizens facing criminal action for protest or dissent, saying there is “no law prohibiting consumption of chicken over the Ganga river.”Speaking at the Justice GP Singh 4th Memorial Lecture at the National Law Institute University (NLIU) in Bhopal, Justice Bhuyan cited the arrest of 14 Muslim men who were accused of consuming chicken biryani while breaking their Ramzan fast on a boat in the Ganga as an example of what he described as the criminalisation of normal activities.”Take for example the case of a group of youngsters breaking their fast over the river Ganga by consuming chicken biryani. I am sure consuming chicken biryani is not an offence. It can’t be an offence. There is no law prohibiting consumption of chicken over the Ganga river. They were arrested for that very reason and they had to remain in jail for 3 months,” he said, as quoted by Bar and Bench.CJP Jantar Mantar Protest UpdatesDharmendra Pradhan resigns as Union education minister amid massive student protests’We won’t go’: CJP’s Dipke says protests to continue till all demands metFresh clashes at Jantar Mantar after Pradhan’s exit; tear gas fired, stones peltedJustice Bhuyan said such cases also highlighted broader concerns over how courts deal with petitions filed by citizens accused in protest-related cases.He observed that while courts often grant bail or other relief, it frequently comes after considerable delay and is accompanied by restrictive conditions.Raises concerns over delayed bail, restrictive conditionsThe judge said the space for expressing divergent opinions in India was shrinking and cautioned against the criminalisation of peaceful democratic activities.”It will not be an exaggeration to say that public space for expressing divergent opinion is shrinking in India. The right to express one’s views and to demonstrate peacefully are fundamental freedoms of the citizens. Debate and dissent are the essence of democracy. Unfortunately, even normal activities are being criminalised,” he said.Justice Bhuyan also questioned the nature of conditions imposed while granting bail, suggesting that some restrictions could have a chilling effect on citizens exercising their right to dissent.”These issues raise serious questions. Citizens are finding that though the courts are responsive and do grant bail, do grant relief, many a times it is belated. But it is the restrictive conditions which are imposed while granting bail that are causing the greatest concern. By such restrictive orders, are the courts indirectly telling the citizens or discouraging the citizens not to express their dissent?” he said.He also cited cases where courts granted bail but directed accused persons not to attend public meetings, post on social media or leave the country, saying such conditions could undermine fundamental freedoms.Refers to Bombay HC order on Gaza protestJustice Bhuyan also referred to a July 2025 Bombay high court order dismissing a petition filed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which had sought permission to hold a protest at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan against the alleged genocide in Gaza.The high court had observed, “Our country has enough issues. We don’t want anything like this. I am sorry to say, you are all short-sighted. You are looking at issues in Gaza and Palestine. Look at your own country. Be patriots. This is not patriotism. People say they are patriots.”Commenting on the order, Justice Bhuyan said he found it “very amusing” that a judge questioned why citizens wished to protest over developments outside India.Calls for scrutiny of judicial decisionsJustice Bhuyan said the judiciary is not above criticism and stressed that judgments should be critically examined by lawyers, students and the wider legal community.”Judgments, after being delivered, are required to be critically examined and criticised if necessary. Criticism of a judgment does not amount to criticism of a judge.”Referring to recent Supreme Court decisions, including the verdict on reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), he encouraged students to analyse judgments critically rather than accepting them unquestioningly.”If everybody goes and tells the judges, ‘Sir, wonderful thing. Sir, what you say is excellent. Sir, you are a jurist,’ then how will the system improve?” he said.Justice Bhuyan also said judges should regularly introspect if they wish to retain public confidence in the institution.”For the judges and the judiciary to remain legitimate and to remain relevant, public perception is most crucial… It is not for us to make that comment. It is for the citizens to assess. Perception of the citizens as to where the judiciary stands today, more particularly the Supreme Court, 75 years after we have become a Republic, is what matters,” he said.He added that institutional improvement depends on introspection and that robust public debate, including criticism of judicial decisions, strengthens democratic institutions.Similar concerns raised earlierJustice Bhuyan has previously voiced similar concerns about shrinking space for debate and dissent.Speaking at a Supreme Court Bar Association conference in Bengaluru earlier this year, he said a developed India would require greater tolerance for diverse views and cautioned against criminalising dissent.During that address, he also questioned the extensive use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), pointing to low conviction rates and arguing that prolonged incarceration without timely trials could not be a model for a developed nation.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Don’t Cry Later’: Asaduddin Owaisi Makes Alliance Offer To Akhilesh Yadav To Oust BJP In UP PollsDelhi Drain Tragedy: 20-Year-Old US Student Dies After Car Plunges Into DrainKargil Vijay Diwas 2026: How Operation Vijay Transformed India’s Military And Defence Strategy3 Arrested In Assam As STF Cracks Down On Alleged Pakistan-Linked Sleeper Cell NetworkDelhi Approves Rs 6,970-Crore Tunnel Corridor To Cut Airport, Mahipalpur Traffic‘Time To Go Home’: CJP Removes Stage, Urges Protesters To Leave Jantar Mantar’Don’t Waste This Energy On One Resignation’: Yogendra Yadav On CJP Future, ‘Police Brutality’RSS Loyalist Pralhad Joshi Appointed As India’s New Education Minister Hours After Pradhan’s ExitPost Protest, Volunteers Launch Cleanliness Drive At Jantar Mantar’Wangchuk, Dipke Joined AISA’s Protest’: Harsh Dubey On NEET, Reservation, Jantar Mantar Protest123PhotostoriesWhy Red Wine should always be allowed to breathe before drinking—this is what happens inside the bottle and the glassThinking of dating a coworker? These 8 rules can save your relationship and your career“Talk to your baby as if they understand you”: Pediatrician shares 5 simple habits that may support your baby’s brain development5 natural foods that can kill cockroaches instantlyAriana Grande, Celine Dion, Katy Perry and more: Musicians who slammed the White House over unauthorised use of their songsInside Krushna Abhishek’s lavish Mumbai home: A massive living room, elegant interiors and moreIran ended visa-free entry for Indians, and it wasn’t the only country to tighten travel rules in 2026; three more countries quietly followed8 Plants that quietly attract sunbirds to Indian balconies5 relationship lessons people often learn only after heartbreakWhat happens when you knead roti dough with hot water and salt? 3 secrets to keep rotis soft for hours123Hot PicksSchool holiday todayDelhi metroCJP ProtestMumbai rainGujarat RainAIIMS notificationNEET paper controversyAAI recruitment 2026Caitline ClarkTop TrendingMP NEET Arpirant RapeNEET Paper LeakCJP Protester AssaultedKerala IPS Ajith Kumar SuspensionAssam Flood DeathsDelhi Metro Stations ClosedMumbai ProtestUP Amroha WeddingHarbhajan singhIND U19 vs Sri Lanka U19

File photo: Justice Ujjwal Bhuyan NEW DELHI: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on Saturday questioned the criminalisation of ordinary activities while highlighting delays in granting relief to citizens facing criminal action for protest or dissent, saying there is “no law prohibiting consumption of chicken over the Ganga river.”Speaking at the Justice GP Singh 4th Memorial Lecture at the National Law Institute University (NLIU) in Bhopal, Justice Bhuyan cited the arrest of 14 Muslim men who were accused of consuming chicken biryani while breaking their Ramzan fast on a boat in the Ganga as an example of what he described as the criminalisation of normal activities.”Take for example the case of a group of youngsters breaking their fast over the river Ganga by consuming chicken biryani. I am sure consuming chicken biryani is not an offence. It can’t be an offence. There is no law prohibiting consumption of chicken over the Ganga river. They were arrested for that very reason and they had to remain in jail for 3 months,” he said, as quoted by Bar and Bench.CJP Jantar Mantar Protest UpdatesDharmendra Pradhan resigns as Union education minister amid massive student protests’We won’t go’: CJP’s Dipke says protests to continue till all demands metFresh clashes at Jantar Mantar after Pradhan’s exit; tear gas fired, stones peltedJustice Bhuyan said such cases also highlighted broader concerns over how courts deal with petitions filed by citizens accused in protest-related cases.He observed that while courts often grant bail or other relief, it frequently comes after considerable delay and is accompanied by restrictive conditions.Raises concerns over delayed bail, restrictive conditionsThe judge said the space for expressing divergent opinions in India was shrinking and cautioned against the criminalisation of peaceful democratic activities.”It will not be an exaggeration to say that public space for expressing divergent opinion is shrinking in India. The right to express one’s views and to demonstrate peacefully are fundamental freedoms of the citizens. Debate and dissent are the essence of democracy. Unfortunately, even normal activities are being criminalised,” he said.Justice Bhuyan also questioned the nature of conditions imposed while granting bail, suggesting that some restrictions could have a chilling effect on citizens exercising their right to dissent.”These issues raise serious questions. Citizens are finding that though the courts are responsive and do grant bail, do grant relief, many a times it is belated. But it is the restrictive conditions which are imposed while granting bail that are causing the greatest concern. By such restrictive orders, are the courts indirectly telling the citizens or discouraging the citizens not to express their dissent?” he said.He also cited cases where courts granted bail but directed accused persons not to attend public meetings, post on social media or leave the country, saying such conditions could undermine fundamental freedoms.Refers to Bombay HC order on Gaza protestJustice Bhuyan also referred to a July 2025 Bombay high court order dismissing a petition filed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which had sought permission to hold a protest at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan against the alleged genocide in Gaza.The high court had observed, “Our country has enough issues. We don’t want anything like this. I am sorry to say, you are all short-sighted. You are looking at issues in Gaza and Palestine. Look at your own country. Be patriots. This is not patriotism. People say they are patriots.”Commenting on the order, Justice Bhuyan said he found it “very amusing” that a judge questioned why citizens wished to protest over developments outside India.Calls for scrutiny of judicial decisionsJustice Bhuyan said the judiciary is not above criticism and stressed that judgments should be critically examined by lawyers, students and the wider legal community.”Judgments, after being delivered, are required to be critically examined and criticised if necessary. Criticism of a judgment does not amount to criticism of a judge.”Referring to recent Supreme Court decisions, including the verdict on reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), he encouraged students to analyse judgments critically rather than accepting them unquestioningly.”If everybody goes and tells the judges, ‘Sir, wonderful thing. Sir, what you say is excellent. Sir, you are a jurist,’ then how will the system improve?” he said.Justice Bhuyan also said judges should regularly introspect if they wish to retain public confidence in the institution.”For the judges and the judiciary to remain legitimate and to remain relevant, public perception is most crucial… It is not for us to make that comment. It is for the citizens to assess. Perception of the citizens as to where the judiciary stands today, more particularly the Supreme Court, 75 years after we have become a Republic, is what matters,” he said.He added that institutional improvement depends on introspection and that robust public debate, including criticism of judicial decisions, strengthens democratic institutions.Similar concerns raised earlierJustice Bhuyan has previously voiced similar concerns about shrinking space for debate and dissent.Speaking at a Supreme Court Bar Association conference in Bengaluru earlier this year, he said a developed India would require greater tolerance for diverse views and cautioned against criminalising dissent.During that address, he also questioned the extensive use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), pointing to low conviction rates and arguing that prolonged incarceration without timely trials could not be a model for a developed nation.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Don’t Cry Later’: Asaduddin Owaisi Makes Alliance Offer To Akhilesh Yadav To Oust BJP In UP PollsDelhi Drain Tragedy: 20-Year-Old US Student Dies After Car Plunges Into DrainKargil Vijay Diwas 2026: How Operation Vijay Transformed India’s Military And Defence Strategy3 Arrested In Assam As STF Cracks Down On Alleged Pakistan-Linked Sleeper Cell NetworkDelhi Approves Rs 6,970-Crore Tunnel Corridor To Cut Airport, Mahipalpur Traffic‘Time To Go Home’: CJP Removes Stage, Urges Protesters To Leave Jantar Mantar’Don’t Waste This Energy On One Resignation’: Yogendra Yadav On CJP Future, ‘Police Brutality’RSS Loyalist Pralhad Joshi Appointed As India’s New Education Minister Hours After Pradhan’s ExitPost Protest, Volunteers Launch Cleanliness Drive At Jantar Mantar’Wangchuk, Dipke Joined AISA’s Protest’: Harsh Dubey On NEET, Reservation, Jantar Mantar Protest123PhotostoriesWhy Red Wine should always be allowed to breathe before drinking—this is what happens inside the bottle and the glassThinking of dating a coworker? These 8 rules can save your relationship and your career“Talk to your baby as if they understand you”: Pediatrician shares 5 simple habits that may support your baby’s brain development5 natural foods that can kill cockroaches instantlyAriana Grande, Celine Dion, Katy Perry and more: Musicians who slammed the White House over unauthorised use of their songsInside Krushna Abhishek’s lavish Mumbai home: A massive living room, elegant interiors and moreIran ended visa-free entry for Indians, and it wasn’t the only country to tighten travel rules in 2026; three more countries quietly followed8 Plants that quietly attract sunbirds to Indian balconies5 relationship lessons people often learn only after heartbreakWhat happens when you knead roti dough with hot water and salt? 3 secrets to keep rotis soft for hours123Hot PicksSchool holiday todayDelhi metroCJP ProtestMumbai rainGujarat RainAIIMS notificationNEET paper controversyAAI recruitment 2026Caitline ClarkTop TrendingMP NEET Arpirant RapeNEET Paper LeakCJP Protester AssaultedKerala IPS Ajith Kumar SuspensionAssam Flood DeathsDelhi Metro Stations ClosedMumbai ProtestUP Amroha WeddingHarbhajan singhIND U19 vs Sri Lanka U19

Vamsikrishna 0
Binturong Somewhere in the collective memory of Indian cinema perches Allah Rakha, the trained bird of prey from Coolie that generations of filmgoers grew up watching. It was a small but glamorous detail in a blockbuster, a wild creature transformed into a loyal companion. It would be difficult to prove that any one film encouraged the wildlife trade. Yet such portrayals can make proximity to a wild animal appear exciting, harmless and even aspirational. The reality behind that image is far less charming.A 2020 study of Facebook groups and pages in Thailand recorded 396 raptors and owls offered for sale between February 2015 and June 2019. These included nine shikras. Researchers found evidence that wild birds, including chicks taken from nests, were being offered online; one juvenile shikra was explicitly advertised as wild-caught. CJP Jantar Mantar Protest UpdatesDharmendra Pradhan resigns as Union education minister amid massive student protests’We won’t go’: CJP’s Dipke says protests to continue till all demands metFresh clashes at Jantar Mantar after Pradhan’s exit; tear gas fired, stones peltedThe falcon story, then, is not an isolated cultural memory. It points to a trade that has moved from cages in traditional markets to photographs, private messages and social-media listings.Earlier this month, a joint operation by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, supported by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, recovered 53 protected animals and birds from locations in Maharashtra and West Bengal. The haul included 15 slow lorises, two binturongs, 28 star tortoises, six Egyptian vultures and two shikras. Six people were arrested in connection with what investigators described as an alleged interstate wildlife-trafficking syndicate. The investigation remains under way. The raid was an important enforcement success. It was also a window into a conservation crisis that rarely receives the attention reserved for tiger skins, elephant ivory or rhino horn.From forest animal to social-media propSlow lorises are especially vulnerable to the visual economy of the exotic-pet trade. Their large eyes and seemingly gentle movements make them attractive subjects for videos, tourist photographs and online posts. What looks endearing on a screen can conceal capture, transport, injury and prolonged stress.Studies of the tourist-photo trade have documented nocturnal slow lorises being exposed to bright lights and repeated flash photography, conditions that can disrupt their natural activity patterns and potentially damage their light-sensitive eyes. Egyptian vulture The physical toll can be severe. Researchers examining 77 confiscated greater slow lorises taken to a rehabilitation centre in Indonesia found that 28.6% died within six months, mostly because of traumatic injuries. All the infants in the group died. External wounds, dental problems and abnormal behaviour were common among those that survived. The study did not claim that every injury occurred during capture or transport, but it demonstrated the extraordinary welfare cost carried by animals moving through the illegal trade. By the time a wild animal appears in someone’s home or on a tourist’s shoulder, others may already have died along the supply chain. The binturong faces a similar pressure. A 2024 study of online trade in Indonesia found 594 advertisements offering 724 live binturongs, with 97.6% of the listings appearing on Facebook. Researchers concluded that the exotic-pet trade appeared to be the principal source of demand in their dataset. Although the exact origins of most animals could not be established, the authors argued that a large share were probably taken illegally from the wild. Seizure records from 2015 to 2023 included 103 live binturongs. The evidence comes from Indonesia, and should not automatically be treated as a measure of the trade in India. But it shows how quickly demand for a relatively little-known forest animal can grow once buyers and sellers find one another online.When beauty and belief become threatsNot every trafficked animal is bought for the same reason. The Indian star tortoise is prized for the striking pattern on its shell and is widely sought in the exotic-pet trade. In some markets, demand is also reinforced by beliefs that tortoises bring luck, prosperity or blessings. Those beliefs may sound benign, but they can turn a wild animal into an object of possession and encourage the removal of thousands of individuals from their natural habitat. The Egyptian vultures recovered during the CBI-DRI operation require more careful interpretation. The official release confirms their recovery but does not say why they were being traded or what the intended buyers planned to do with them. It would therefore be premature to attribute this particular seizure to occult practices, medicine or any other specific purpose. What is clear is that the Egyptian vulture is already endangered and faces several established threats, including poisoning, unsafe veterinary drugs, electrocution and the ingestion of contaminated carcasses. Illegal capture or trade adds another hazard to a species that has little room left for additional pressure. The larger lesson is that wildlife trafficking is not one market. It is a collection of overlapping markets driven by pets, status, food, traditional practices, decorative value and beliefs about luck or healing. Different species enter the chain for different reasons, but the result is often the same, an animal is removed from the wild and reduced to a commodity.A crisis hiding in plain sightPublic attention to wildlife crime naturally gravitates towards tigers, elephants and rhinos. Sustained focus on these species has helped strengthen legislation, enforcement and public awareness. But the success of flagship-species conservation can create a blind spot. It can leave the impression that the broader war on wildlife trafficking is being won, even as birds, reptiles, primates and small carnivores continue to move through less visible networks.A Lok Sabha reply issued in August 2025 listed 820 wildlife-crime cases reported to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau in 2020, followed by 632 in 2021, 546 in 2022, 349 in 2023 and 354 in 2024. These were cases registered and reported by state and central enforcement agencies. They are not estimates of the total number of wildlife crimes committed. The numbers therefore require care. The broad decline may indicate better deterrence, changing enforcement priorities or variations in reporting. It may also reflect the growing difficulty of detecting transactions that have moved online. The small increase from 349 cases in 2023 to 354 in 2024 also means the series is not an uninterrupted annual fall. A detected case tells us that enforcement found something. A falling number of detected cases does not, by itself, tell us whether the underlying trade is shrinking.The bazaar and the smartphoneThe modern wildlife trade does not require the dark web. Ordinary social-media platforms are sufficient. A photograph can function as a shop window. The price can be negotiated through a private message. Buyers and sellers may never meet until the animal is delivered or handed to an intermediary. Research on the online trade in raptors and binturongs shows how public or semi-private social-media groups can connect sellers with a large customer base while making monitoring difficult.But the smartphone has not replaced the traditional wildlife market. The two systems can coexist. Repeated enforcement operations at Delhi’s Kabutar Market near Jama Masjid illustrate the resilience of the physical trade. Wildlife SOS reported that 1,741 birds, including around 500 chicks, were recovered in a 2022 operation. In July 2024, the Delhi Forest Department recovered around 1,000 birds following a complaint by PETA India. Nearly 150 more parakeets and pigeons were recovered in another operation that December. These figures do not establish that every trader in the market is involved in illegal activity. They do, however, show that protected native birds have repeatedly been found within an established commercial space. An IndiaSpend investigation into bird markets in Delhi, Patna and Lucknow also reported sales of protected species, poor welfare conditions and widespread non-compliance with registration requirements. Such findings should be attributed to the specific investigation rather than used to condemn every pet-shop owner or vendor in those cities. Shikra Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, establishments selling live animals are required to register and maintain prescribed welfare and record-keeping standards. Separately, the Wild Life (Protection) Act regulates the possession and trade of protected wildlife. Registration as a pet shop does not authorise a business to sell a protected native species. Looking beyond the flagship speciesRaids matter. They rescue individual animals, disrupt supply chains and create consequences for traffickers. But repeated recoveries from the same markets show the limits of enforcement that addresses supply without reducing demand. Protecting biodiversity will require closer monitoring of online platforms, better coordination among forest departments, police, customs authorities and courier networks, and consistent action against the illegal sale of protected species. Social-media companies must also become more effective at identifying and removing wildlife-sale posts rather than relying largely on outside researchers and activists to flag them.Public behaviour matters just as much. A person posing with a nocturnal primate may see only an unusual holiday photograph. A buyer taking home a tortoise may believe that one small purchase cannot harm a species. Someone sharing an exotic-pet video may not know whether the animal was legally bred or pulled from the wild.But demand is built from individual acts. Every impulsive purchase, paid photograph and viral post can add value to the next animal waiting to be captured. South Asia’s conservation story cannot end with the tiger, the elephant or the rhino. Its future also depends on the shikra in the cage, the loris under the camera flash, the tortoise hidden inside a bag and the binturong advertised through a phone screen. These are the creatures that rarely command front pages. They are also the ones the wildlife trade is counting on nobody to notice.Dr. Ridhima Solanki holds a PhD in Natural Resources and Wildlife Sciences and a Master’s in Forestry, with over a decade of experience shaping wildlife policy and practice across India and Southeast Asia.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRidhima SolankiDr. Ridhima Solanki holds a PhD in Natural Resources and Wildlife Sciences and a Master’s in Forestry, with over a decade of experience shaping wildlife policy and practice across India and Southeast Asia. She currently serves as Program Manager at the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), the Kathmandu-based body that coordinates wildlife law enforcement across eight South Asian countries to combat illegal wildlife trade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Don’t Cry Later’: Asaduddin Owaisi Makes Alliance Offer To Akhilesh Yadav To Oust BJP In UP PollsDelhi Drain Tragedy: 20-Year-Old US Student Dies After Car Plunges Into DrainKargil Vijay Diwas 2026: How Operation Vijay Transformed India’s Military And Defence Strategy3 Arrested In Assam As STF Cracks Down On Alleged Pakistan-Linked Sleeper Cell NetworkDelhi Approves Rs 6,970-Crore Tunnel Corridor To Cut Airport, Mahipalpur Traffic‘Time To Go Home’: CJP Removes Stage, Urges Protesters To Leave Jantar Mantar’Don’t Waste This Energy On One Resignation’: Yogendra Yadav On CJP Future, ‘Police Brutality’RSS Loyalist Pralhad Joshi Appointed As India’s New Education Minister Hours After Pradhan’s ExitPost Protest, Volunteers Launch Cleanliness Drive At Jantar Mantar’Wangchuk, Dipke Joined AISA’s Protest’: Harsh Dubey On NEET, Reservation, Jantar Mantar Protest123PhotostoriesWhy Red Wine should always be allowed to breathe before drinking—this is what happens inside the bottle and the glassThinking of dating a coworker? 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Binturong Somewhere in the collective memory of Indian cinema perches Allah Rakha, the trained bird of prey from Coolie that generations of filmgoers grew up watching. It was a small but glamorous detail in a blockbuster, a wild creature transformed into a loyal companion. It would be difficult to prove that any one film encouraged the wildlife trade. Yet such portrayals can make proximity to a wild animal appear exciting, harmless and even aspirational. The reality behind that image is far less charming.A 2020 study of Facebook groups and pages in Thailand recorded 396 raptors and owls offered for sale between February 2015 and June 2019. These included nine shikras. Researchers found evidence that wild birds, including chicks taken from nests, were being offered online; one juvenile shikra was explicitly advertised as wild-caught. CJP Jantar Mantar Protest UpdatesDharmendra Pradhan resigns as Union education minister amid massive student protests’We won’t go’: CJP’s Dipke says protests to continue till all demands metFresh clashes at Jantar Mantar after Pradhan’s exit; tear gas fired, stones peltedThe falcon story, then, is not an isolated cultural memory. It points to a trade that has moved from cages in traditional markets to photographs, private messages and social-media listings.Earlier this month, a joint operation by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, supported by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, recovered 53 protected animals and birds from locations in Maharashtra and West Bengal. The haul included 15 slow lorises, two binturongs, 28 star tortoises, six Egyptian vultures and two shikras. Six people were arrested in connection with what investigators described as an alleged interstate wildlife-trafficking syndicate. The investigation remains under way. The raid was an important enforcement success. It was also a window into a conservation crisis that rarely receives the attention reserved for tiger skins, elephant ivory or rhino horn.From forest animal to social-media propSlow lorises are especially vulnerable to the visual economy of the exotic-pet trade. Their large eyes and seemingly gentle movements make them attractive subjects for videos, tourist photographs and online posts. What looks endearing on a screen can conceal capture, transport, injury and prolonged stress.Studies of the tourist-photo trade have documented nocturnal slow lorises being exposed to bright lights and repeated flash photography, conditions that can disrupt their natural activity patterns and potentially damage their light-sensitive eyes. Egyptian vulture The physical toll can be severe. Researchers examining 77 confiscated greater slow lorises taken to a rehabilitation centre in Indonesia found that 28.6% died within six months, mostly because of traumatic injuries. All the infants in the group died. External wounds, dental problems and abnormal behaviour were common among those that survived. The study did not claim that every injury occurred during capture or transport, but it demonstrated the extraordinary welfare cost carried by animals moving through the illegal trade. By the time a wild animal appears in someone’s home or on a tourist’s shoulder, others may already have died along the supply chain. The binturong faces a similar pressure. A 2024 study of online trade in Indonesia found 594 advertisements offering 724 live binturongs, with 97.6% of the listings appearing on Facebook. Researchers concluded that the exotic-pet trade appeared to be the principal source of demand in their dataset. Although the exact origins of most animals could not be established, the authors argued that a large share were probably taken illegally from the wild. Seizure records from 2015 to 2023 included 103 live binturongs. The evidence comes from Indonesia, and should not automatically be treated as a measure of the trade in India. But it shows how quickly demand for a relatively little-known forest animal can grow once buyers and sellers find one another online.When beauty and belief become threatsNot every trafficked animal is bought for the same reason. The Indian star tortoise is prized for the striking pattern on its shell and is widely sought in the exotic-pet trade. In some markets, demand is also reinforced by beliefs that tortoises bring luck, prosperity or blessings. Those beliefs may sound benign, but they can turn a wild animal into an object of possession and encourage the removal of thousands of individuals from their natural habitat. The Egyptian vultures recovered during the CBI-DRI operation require more careful interpretation. The official release confirms their recovery but does not say why they were being traded or what the intended buyers planned to do with them. It would therefore be premature to attribute this particular seizure to occult practices, medicine or any other specific purpose. What is clear is that the Egyptian vulture is already endangered and faces several established threats, including poisoning, unsafe veterinary drugs, electrocution and the ingestion of contaminated carcasses. Illegal capture or trade adds another hazard to a species that has little room left for additional pressure. The larger lesson is that wildlife trafficking is not one market. It is a collection of overlapping markets driven by pets, status, food, traditional practices, decorative value and beliefs about luck or healing. Different species enter the chain for different reasons, but the result is often the same, an animal is removed from the wild and reduced to a commodity.A crisis hiding in plain sightPublic attention to wildlife crime naturally gravitates towards tigers, elephants and rhinos. Sustained focus on these species has helped strengthen legislation, enforcement and public awareness. But the success of flagship-species conservation can create a blind spot. It can leave the impression that the broader war on wildlife trafficking is being won, even as birds, reptiles, primates and small carnivores continue to move through less visible networks.A Lok Sabha reply issued in August 2025 listed 820 wildlife-crime cases reported to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau in 2020, followed by 632 in 2021, 546 in 2022, 349 in 2023 and 354 in 2024. These were cases registered and reported by state and central enforcement agencies. They are not estimates of the total number of wildlife crimes committed. The numbers therefore require care. The broad decline may indicate better deterrence, changing enforcement priorities or variations in reporting. It may also reflect the growing difficulty of detecting transactions that have moved online. The small increase from 349 cases in 2023 to 354 in 2024 also means the series is not an uninterrupted annual fall. A detected case tells us that enforcement found something. A falling number of detected cases does not, by itself, tell us whether the underlying trade is shrinking.The bazaar and the smartphoneThe modern wildlife trade does not require the dark web. Ordinary social-media platforms are sufficient. A photograph can function as a shop window. The price can be negotiated through a private message. Buyers and sellers may never meet until the animal is delivered or handed to an intermediary. Research on the online trade in raptors and binturongs shows how public or semi-private social-media groups can connect sellers with a large customer base while making monitoring difficult.But the smartphone has not replaced the traditional wildlife market. The two systems can coexist. Repeated enforcement operations at Delhi’s Kabutar Market near Jama Masjid illustrate the resilience of the physical trade. Wildlife SOS reported that 1,741 birds, including around 500 chicks, were recovered in a 2022 operation. In July 2024, the Delhi Forest Department recovered around 1,000 birds following a complaint by PETA India. Nearly 150 more parakeets and pigeons were recovered in another operation that December. These figures do not establish that every trader in the market is involved in illegal activity. They do, however, show that protected native birds have repeatedly been found within an established commercial space. An IndiaSpend investigation into bird markets in Delhi, Patna and Lucknow also reported sales of protected species, poor welfare conditions and widespread non-compliance with registration requirements. Such findings should be attributed to the specific investigation rather than used to condemn every pet-shop owner or vendor in those cities. Shikra Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, establishments selling live animals are required to register and maintain prescribed welfare and record-keeping standards. Separately, the Wild Life (Protection) Act regulates the possession and trade of protected wildlife. Registration as a pet shop does not authorise a business to sell a protected native species. Looking beyond the flagship speciesRaids matter. They rescue individual animals, disrupt supply chains and create consequences for traffickers. But repeated recoveries from the same markets show the limits of enforcement that addresses supply without reducing demand. Protecting biodiversity will require closer monitoring of online platforms, better coordination among forest departments, police, customs authorities and courier networks, and consistent action against the illegal sale of protected species. Social-media companies must also become more effective at identifying and removing wildlife-sale posts rather than relying largely on outside researchers and activists to flag them.Public behaviour matters just as much. A person posing with a nocturnal primate may see only an unusual holiday photograph. A buyer taking home a tortoise may believe that one small purchase cannot harm a species. Someone sharing an exotic-pet video may not know whether the animal was legally bred or pulled from the wild.But demand is built from individual acts. Every impulsive purchase, paid photograph and viral post can add value to the next animal waiting to be captured. South Asia’s conservation story cannot end with the tiger, the elephant or the rhino. Its future also depends on the shikra in the cage, the loris under the camera flash, the tortoise hidden inside a bag and the binturong advertised through a phone screen. These are the creatures that rarely command front pages. They are also the ones the wildlife trade is counting on nobody to notice.Dr. Ridhima Solanki holds a PhD in Natural Resources and Wildlife Sciences and a Master’s in Forestry, with over a decade of experience shaping wildlife policy and practice across India and Southeast Asia.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRidhima SolankiDr. Ridhima Solanki holds a PhD in Natural Resources and Wildlife Sciences and a Master’s in Forestry, with over a decade of experience shaping wildlife policy and practice across India and Southeast Asia. She currently serves as Program Manager at the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), the Kathmandu-based body that coordinates wildlife law enforcement across eight South Asian countries to combat illegal wildlife trade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Don’t Cry Later’: Asaduddin Owaisi Makes Alliance Offer To Akhilesh Yadav To Oust BJP In UP PollsDelhi Drain Tragedy: 20-Year-Old US Student Dies After Car Plunges Into DrainKargil Vijay Diwas 2026: How Operation Vijay Transformed India’s Military And Defence Strategy3 Arrested In Assam As STF Cracks Down On Alleged Pakistan-Linked Sleeper Cell NetworkDelhi Approves Rs 6,970-Crore Tunnel Corridor To Cut Airport, Mahipalpur Traffic‘Time To Go Home’: CJP Removes Stage, Urges Protesters To Leave Jantar Mantar’Don’t Waste This Energy On One Resignation’: Yogendra Yadav On CJP Future, ‘Police Brutality’RSS Loyalist Pralhad Joshi Appointed As India’s New Education Minister Hours After Pradhan’s ExitPost Protest, Volunteers Launch Cleanliness Drive At Jantar Mantar’Wangchuk, Dipke Joined AISA’s Protest’: Harsh Dubey On NEET, Reservation, Jantar Mantar Protest123PhotostoriesWhy Red Wine should always be allowed to breathe before drinking—this is what happens inside the bottle and the glassThinking of dating a coworker? 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