West Bengal CM Adhikari alleged anti-social elements infiltrated the NEET paper leak protest rally in Kolkata, attacking police and journalists. Seven FIRs were registered, 70 suspects identified, and cases will proceed under the West Bengal Public Safety Act, 2026.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday alleged that anti-social elements infiltrated the NEET examination paper leak protest rally held in Kolkata on Friday, leading to attacks on police personnel and journalists. Addressing the State Assembly on the concluding day of the six-day extended Budget Session, the Chief Minister said the violence was orchestrated by individuals with no connection to the student movement and was aimed at creating unrest and provoking police action.
According to the Chief Minister, the protest rally, organised jointly by what he referred to as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) along with the youth and student wings of different Left parties, was initially expected to remain a democratic and peaceful demonstration. However, he claimed that the gathering was infiltrated by anti-social elements from selected localities of Kolkata, including Rajabazar, Kidderpore, Park Circus, Garden Reach, Ekbalpur and Newtown.
Suvendu Adhikari said the state government had issued clear instructions to the police not to use force against peaceful demonstrators. “In a democratic system, protest is a democratic right. There were strict instructions to the police not to use force on any peaceful movement. But the situation turned chaotic after outsiders infiltrated the rally,” he told the Assembly.
The Chief Minister further alleged that many of those involved in the violence were neither students nor connected with the NEET examination issue. He claimed that these individuals threw water bottles, shoes and other objects at police personnel stationed at Dorina Crossing while also targeting media representatives covering the demonstration.
“The people who participated in the violence had no connection with NEET. Their objective was to create disorder and provoke the police into using baton charges and tear gas shells. Fortunately, the police did not fall into that trap despite repeated provocations,” the Chief Minister said.
Adhikari also alleged that journalists performing their professional duties became victims of the violence. According to him, several media personnel were assaulted during the clashes, with six journalists reportedly sustaining serious injuries.
Highlighting the government’s response, the Chief Minister said that seven cases related to the incident would be investigated under the newly enacted West Bengal Public Safety & Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026, which contains stricter legal provisions to curb anti-social activities, violence and corruption in the state.
Meanwhile, authorities registered another First Information Report (FIR) following Friday’s violence, taking the total number of FIRs related to the incident to seven.
The investigation has also made significant progress, according to the Chief Minister. He informed the Assembly that investigators have identified 70 individuals allegedly involved in the violence through CCTV footage and video evidence collected from the protest site. Law enforcement agencies are continuing efforts to identify and apprehend others suspected of participating in the attacks.
The NEET paper leak issue has sparked widespread protests across several parts of the country, with students and political organisations demanding accountability and transparency in the conduct of the national medical entrance examination. However, the West Bengal government has maintained that while peaceful protests are protected under democratic principles, any attempt to incite violence or attack law enforcement officials and media personnel will invite strict legal action.
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The incident has intensified the political debate in West Bengal, with the ruling government defending the police response while alleging that organised anti-social elements attempted to hijack a student-led protest to create law and order problems in the state.
