Archive · 28 Jul 2026
16 Arrested in NEET Protest Vandalism Case
A protest rally in Kolkata turned violent on Friday, leading to the arrest of 16 men.
The police accused them of throwing sticks, bottles, and shoes to disrupt the rally.
On Monday, two more men were arrested, bringing the total to 16.
The police paraded five of the accused in a crowded area to reconstruct the crime, which raised concerns from human rights activists.
The rally was organized by several Left outfits with the support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
The accused face multiple charges, including rioting and obstructing public servants.
16 men arrested in connection with vandalism during a NEET protest rally in Kolkata.
Two more men, Waqar Azam and Mohammad Javed Akhtar, were arrested on Monday.
Five of the accused were paraded in a crowded area for a reconstruction of the alleged offense.
The accused face multiple charges, including rioting and obstructing public servants.
Human rights activists questioned the police's parading of accused persons in public places.
- Who
- 16 men, including Waqar Azam and Mohammad Javed Akhtar, were arrested in connection with vandalism during a NEET protest rally.
- What
- The men were accused of instigating violence, throwing bamboo sticks, bottles, and shoes to disrupt the rally.
- When
- The protest rally took place on Friday, and additional arrests were made on Monday.
- Where
- The incident occurred in Kolkata, with the reconstruction of the alleged offense taking place at Esplanade.
- Why
- The arrests and charges were made in response to the vandalism and disruption during the NEET protest rally.
Police and Government
Human Rights Activists and CJP
Parading of Accused
Police and Government
Police defend the parading of accused as a necessary part of the investigation to reconstruct the crime.
Human Rights Activists and CJP
Human rights activists question the police's parading of accused persons in public places, citing concerns about the impact on the investigation and potential rights violations.
- Date of Protest
- Friday
- Number of Arrests
- 16
- Charges Filed
- Voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint, snatching, criminal intimidation, unlawful assembly, carrying weapons in an unlawful assembly, rioting, causing grievous hurt to deter a public servant from discharging duty, assaulting or using criminal force against public servants, disobedience of orders issued by public servants, obstructing public servants in their duties, intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace, common intention and common object or group liability, Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Act
- Location of Reconstruction
- Esplanade
- Organizers of the Rally
- Several Left outfits with the support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)