Reporters from Times Now, ABP News, Republic and NDTV say they were attacked or abused by protesters at the Cockroach Janta Party protests in Delhi in July 2026. The assaults are documented: Newslaundry recorded them in detail, the Editors Guild of India condemned them, and a CJP spokesperson apologised to one reporter.
Claim: Protesters at the CJP protests attacked journalists.
Said by: The reporters involved and their channels: Times Now, ABP News, Republic TV and NDTV.
What the record shows: Multiple assaults between 18 and 21 July are documented, with named victims. The Editors Guild condemned them. No arrests were reported.
Where the claim came from
Many young protesters distrusted mainstream TV, which they called "Godi media" (lapdog media). Reporters carrying channel-branded mics were heckled, while people using small collar mics were largely left alone. Reuters Institute The channels and reporters themselves reported the attacks, and Times Network publicly condemned the assault on its staff. Newslaundry
What the evidence shows
Documented Newslaundry's account of 22 July 2026 records these incidents: Newslaundry
- Dev Kotak, Times Now: surrounded and assaulted. His shirt was torn and his phone, watch and glasses taken, and he was reportedly hospitalised. "From six different directions, 100 punches, kicks, slaps, water, and bottles were thrown at me," he said. Some protesters pulled him out of the crowd.
- Varun Bhasin, ABP News: near Parliament, water and trash were thrown at him. He sheltered in a police vehicle; the crowd tried to pull him out by the legs, then stoned the vehicle as it drove off.
- Shafali Nigam, Times Now: her cameraman was grabbed by the collar and thrown back, and she was kicked in the leg.
- Shambhavi Srivastava, Republic TV: hit on the chest and arm on the 20 July march; she says a man jabbed her with a pen or similar object.
- A young woman NDTV reporter: abused at Jantar Mantar on 18 and 19 July, with sexual remarks and her shirt pulled. A video of her was viewed 60 million times, and she received rape and death threats online.
The Statesman also reported the attack on Kotak, and said CJP spokesperson Saurav Das condemned it and apologised to him. The Statesman Alt News reported that Zee News crews were injured in Patna and heckled in Mumbai. Alt News
Biased reporting can never be the justification for attacks on media persons.
Editors Guild of India, 23 July 2026 (Scroll)
The same statement condemned police "caning, tear-gassing and even using electric prods". No arrests for the attacks on reporters were reported. Scroll
Context
Journalists also faced police action. Several were caught up in police force on 20 July, and in the October anti-CEC protests three women journalists alleged sexual harassment by police. Newslaundry Kashmir Images No case of protesters attacking journalists in October was found. The July protests are covered on the Cockroach Janta Party protests page.
Questions people ask
Which reporters were attacked at the CJP protests?
Named victims include Dev Kotak and Shafali Nigam of Times Now, Varun Bhasin of ABP News, Shambhavi Srivastava of Republic and an NDTV woman reporter.
Did the CJP apologise for attacks on reporters?
Spokesperson Saurav Das condemned the attack on Dev Kotak and apologised to him.
Was anyone arrested for attacking journalists?
No arrests for the attacks on reporters were found in the reports reviewed.
Sources
- Reuters Institute: The cockroaches' reckoning, 17 Aug 2026
- Newslaundry: From "Godi media" taunts to assault, the reporters caught in Jantar Mantar's anger, 22 Jul 2026
- The Statesman: Times Now reporter Dev Kotak attacked, Jul 2026
- Alt News: Why TV reporters became a target during CJP protests, Jul 2026
- Scroll: Editors Guild on attacks on media persons, 23 Jul 2026
- Kashmir Images: Press Club condemns police action on journalists, 5 Oct 2026
