Youth Congress workers protesting alleged NEET examination corruption and demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation faced water cannon and lathi charge action near the Chief Minister’s residence. Several activists were injured and detained, triggering political controversy over police response, democratic rights, unemployment, and rising prices.
A massive protest march organized by the Youth Congress demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged corruption in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination turned chaotic on Monday after police resorted to water cannons and lathi charge to disperse demonstrators near the Chief Minister’s official residence. The incident left several activists injured and sparked a fresh political controversy over the handling of democratic protests.
The protest rally witnessed the participation of more than a hundred Youth Congress workers and supporters who gathered to voice concerns over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination process. Alongside the issue of examination corruption, protesters also raised slogans against rising prices, unemployment, and what they described as the failure of the government to address pressing public concerns.
The march began peacefully in the morning and moved through key areas of the city. However, tensions escalated when the procession reached the vicinity of IGM Hospital, where security personnel had erected barricades to prevent protesters from advancing toward the Chief Minister’s residence.
Determined to continue their march, several protesters attempted to push through the barricades, resulting in a confrontation with law enforcement authorities. In response, police deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd and prevent any breach of the high-security zone surrounding the Chief Minister’s residence.
As demonstrators continued their efforts to move forward, police intensified the operation with a second round of water cannon action followed by a lathi charge. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos as activists ran for safety while several protesters sustained injuries during the crackdown. Some injured participants were seen receiving immediate medical assistance on the spot, while others were shifted for further treatment.
Youth Congress president Neel Kamal Saha strongly condemned the police action, alleging that the administration had used excessive force against peaceful demonstrators. He accused the government of attempting to suppress democratic voices and prevent citizens from expressing their concerns over alleged corruption and governance issues.
“The use of force against peaceful protesters is unacceptable in a democratic setup. People have the right to raise their voices against corruption, unemployment, and rising prices,” Saha reportedly stated while criticizing the administration’s handling of the situation.
The incident drew sharp reactions from opposition leaders, who questioned why such stringent measures were employed against political protesters. Several opposition figures argued that peaceful demonstrations were being met with severe action, while stronger responses were often lacking against criminal activities and drug-related networks.
“This is not law enforcement; it is an attempt to suppress dissent,” an opposition leader remarked while criticizing the police intervention.
Police officials, however, defended their actions, stating that maintaining law and order and protecting the Chief Minister’s residence were their primary responsibilities. Authorities maintained that no individual or group would be permitted to enter the restricted high-security zone.
Following the confrontation, Neel Kamal Saha and several protesters were detained and taken to AD Nagar Police Lines. Although the situation was eventually brought under control, images of injured activists and the forceful police response quickly circulated, generating widespread debate and political reactions.
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The incident has once again brought issues of protest rights, law enforcement methods, and accountability in public administration into focus, with political parties continuing to trade accusations over the events that unfolded during the Youth Congress demonstration.
