India, July 24 -- Protests over the NEET paper leak and alleged police action against students spread across several states on Thursday, with Ranchi witnessing violent clashes between Congress and BJP workers, while demonstrations were held in Maharashtra and Assam demanding accountability and education reforms. In Jharkhand, several people, including police personnel and journalists, were injured after Congress and BJP workers allegedly hurled stones, eggs and tomatoes at each other during a protest in Ranchi. The violence erupted when Congress workers marched towards the BJP's state headquarters, raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the examination paper leak controversy. BJP workers soon staged a counter-protest, triggering clashes despite heavy police deployment and barricading.
Police resorted to mild force to disperse the crowd. Ranchi SP (Rural) Gaurav Goswami said CCTV footage was being examined to identify those involved in the violence. Several people were detained, while both the BJP and Congress claimed around 10 people, including two journalists, were injured. In Maharashtra, the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) organised statewide protests after calling for a bandh against the Centre's education policies, repeated paper leaks and the alleged crackdown on students in Delhi. VBA supporters blocked a major road in Mumbai, disrupting traffic, while demonstrations were also held in Nagpur, Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Mumbai Police detained more than 150 protesters for violating prohibitory orders before releasing them later.
Claiming that around 3,500 VBA workers had been detained across the state, Prakash Ambedkar alleged that authorities were targeting protesters instead of those responsible for the paper leaks. He also accused a section of the RSS of attempting to provoke confrontation with VBA workers. Meanwhile, in Assam, students, parents, educators and civil society members gathered at Guwahati's Chachal protest ground to demand Pradhan's resignation and express solidarity with activist Sonam Wangchuk and students seeking education reforms. The peaceful demonstration, part of a nationwide campaign led by Wangchuk, saw protesters carrying placards demanding transparency, accountability and justice for NEET aspirants. "We are here because students deserve a system they can trust. The NEET paper leak has shaken the confidence of aspirants across the country. We want accountability," a protester said
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.