CM Adhikari Alleges Anti-Social Elements Infiltrated NEET Paper Leak Protest

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari told the State Assembly on Saturday that anti-social elements from specific localities in Kolkata had infiltrated a joint protest rally over the NEET examination paper leak, holding them primarily responsible for attacking police personnel and journalists during Friday's demonstration. Adhikari said the individuals involved came from areas including Rajabazar, Kidderpore, Park Circus, Garden Reach, and Ekbalpur, and had assembled at a joint rally organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) alongside the youth and student wings of various Left parties.

Addressing the House on the concluding day of the six-day extended Budget Session, Adhikari said police had been given strict instructions not to use force against any democratic or peaceful protest, noting that the right to demonstrate remains a protected democratic right. However, he said the situation at the rally had descended into chaos. While the CJP maintained that Left-affiliated student and youth organizations had joined the protest, the Chief Minister alleged that many of those present were unconnected to the NEET issue or the student movement, instead identifying them as individuals from Kolkata and surrounding areas, including Newtown, with no direct stake in the cause. He said this group had thrown water bottles and shoes at police stationed at Dorina Crossing and had physically attacked journalists covering the event.

According to Adhikari, the primary intent behind the disruption was to provoke a forceful police response, such as a baton-charge or the use of teargas, in order to escalate tensions and draw public attention. He said police had avoided being drawn into that confrontation, but that the group had continued its attacks regardless, resulting in injuries to several journalists. He specified that six journalists had sustained serious injuries during the violence. Adhikari said a total of seven cases connected to the incident would be prosecuted under the newly enacted West Bengal Public Safety & Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026, which he described as carrying stricter provisions aimed at curbing rowdy and anti-social conduct as well as corruption within the state.

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Separately, authorities registered an additional First Information Report (FIR) related to disorderly conduct during Friday's rally, bringing the total number of FIRs filed in connection with the incident to seven. Investigators said that using CCTV footage and video recordings from the scene, a total of 70 individuals had been identified as being directly involved in the disruptive activity.

The developments add a new dimension to the broader nationwide unrest surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, with West Bengal authorities signaling their intent to pursue strict legal action against those found responsible for the violence, even as protests and political debate over the examination irregularities continue across the country.

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