RAF Officer Sonia Sehrawat Faces Backlash Over Alleged Instagram Story Amid CJP Protest Row

Rapid Action Force (RAF) officer Sonia Sehrawat has found herself at the centre of a political controversy following the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in Delhi. The controversy erupted after a screenshot of an alleged Instagram story, reportedly posted by Sehrawat a day after the party’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ march on July 20, went viral on social media.

According to the widely circulated screenshot, the now-deleted Instagram story featured a short reel with the caption, “Can’t fix themselves and they wanna fix the country.” Hindustan Times stated that it could not independently verify the authenticity of the post.

The alleged social media post drew strong criticism from CJP, which accused the RAF officer of insulting protesters and defending what the party described as excessive use of force by security personnel during the demonstration.

In a post on X, the CJP reacted sharply, saying the officer viewed peaceful protesters as “cockroaches” and appeared to justify police action against them. The party responded with the statement, “We are cockroaches. And cockroaches never die,” turning the remark into a slogan of defiance.

The controversy also attracted political attention after Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra shared the alleged screenshot on X. She criticised the officer and called for greater public scrutiny of her actions, alleging that the Instagram story targeted student protesters.

Confrontation During Parliament March

The issue comes days after CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke publicly questioned Sehrawat during the July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar.

Addressing the RAF officer directly from atop a vehicle, Dipke accused security personnel of using excessive force against women protesters. Referring to allegations made by a female demonstrator, he asked whether Sehrawat supported what he described as brutality against women by male security personnel.

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Despite his criticism, Dipke also acknowledged Sehrawat’s conduct during the confrontation. He praised her for listening patiently to the protesters, saying she was the only officer who had allowed him to express his concerns during the month-long agitation. Dipke added that he had chosen to prevent the march from escalating because he feared protesters, particularly students, could be seriously injured.

Sehrawat Rejects Allegations

Responding to the accusations, Sehrawat denied that RAF personnel under her command had intentionally or unintentionally assaulted protesters.

She said her team was trained specifically to protect women and insisted that no member of her unit had harmed demonstrators. According to Sehrawat, repeated requests were made asking protesters to maintain distance and avoid overcrowding.

She claimed the situation deteriorated when the crowd surged from behind, causing several women to fall in what she described as a stampede-like situation. Sehrawat maintained that the injuries were caused by the crowd movement rather than by security personnel.

The RAF officer also alleged that she and several members of her unit suffered injuries during the confrontation. She claimed stones and shoes were thrown at security personnel, her helmet was pulled off, and one jawan was dragged into the crowd.

According to Sehrawat, security personnel had to act in self-defence after coming under attack. She further stated that a 12-year-old girl was present at the protest and argued that the priority of the RAF was to ensure the safety of women and children caught in the chaos.

When asked whether comments made by Dipke referring to her as a woman and a mother had affected her personally, Sehrawat declined to respond, saying those were personal remarks.

Who Is Sonia Sehrawat?

Sonia Sehrawat serves as an Assistant Commandant in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and is currently posted with the Rapid Action Force (RAF).

Beyond her official duties, Sehrawat has built a significant presence on Instagram, where she has more than 621,000 followers. Her social media account primarily features fitness videos, dance reels, lifestyle content and occasional glimpses of her life in uniform.

The controversy surrounding the alleged Instagram story has further intensified the debate over the handling of the CJP protests and the conduct of both protesters and security forces, with the authenticity of the viral post remaining independently unverified.