Patna Police release photos of 117 suspects in NEET protest violence
Synopsis
Days after student protesters demanding action over the alleged NEET paper leak clashed with police in Patna, Bihar Police have taken the unusual step of publicly releasing photographs of 117 suspects on social media, turning the identification process into a public exercise — and escalating a controversy that has already engulfed national education politics.
Key Takeaways
Patna Police released photographs of 117 suspects following violence during a student protest on 22 July in Patna .
The protest demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak .
Thousands marched from Gandhi Maidan towards the Bihar Legislative Assembly ; a section allegedly turned violent, targeting police and media with stone-pelting.
Police used water cannons and a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd; some protesters allegedly reached the BJP office and pelted stones there too.
Photographs were posted on the official X accounts of Bihar Police and Patna Police, with legal action promised against all identified individuals.
Patna Police have launched a large-scale identification drive after violence broke out during a student demonstration over the alleged NEET paper leak in the Bihar capital on 22 July. Photographs of 117 individuals suspected of involvement in stone-pelting and vandalism have been made public, with authorities appealing for help in identifying them.
What Triggered the Protest
The demonstration was organised to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak. Thousands of students marched from Gandhi Maidan towards the Bihar Legislative Assembly, with the crowd swelling as it moved through key roads in the city.
How the Violence Unfolded
A section of the crowd allegedly turned violent during the march, with reports of stone-pelting directed at police personnel and media representatives. Authorities initially deployed water cannons to manage the situation. When protesters allegedly continued advancing and the situation worsened, police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the gathering.
Some protesters allegedly reached the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in the area, where stone-pelting was reported. Police personnel, assisted by BJP workers present at the location, dispersed the crowd and restored order, according to officials.
The Identification Drive
Following the unrest, both Bihar Police and Patna Police uploaded photographs of the 117 suspects — captured during the protest — on their official accounts on social media platform X, seeking public assistance in identification. Officials confirmed that legal action will be initiated against all individuals identified as having participated in acts of violence or vandalism, in accordance with the law.
According to the police, the photographs are part of an ongoing investigation and represent a significant step in holding those allegedly responsible to account.
Political Fallout
The 22 July protest has rapidly become a major political flashpoint in Bihar, with the ruling alliance and the opposition offering sharply divergent accounts of both the events and the police response. The alleged NEET paper leak has already sparked nationwide student unrest, and the Patna violence has added a new dimension to what is now a politically charged controversy over examination integrity and ministerial accountability.
The investigation is ongoing, and police say all verified suspects will face legal proceedings.
Point of View
And the optics of a lathi-charge against protesters demanding exam accountability will invite scrutiny regardless of what the investigation concludes. Bihar's ruling alliance and the opposition are both framing the same events to suit their narratives, which means the truth of what triggered the violence may remain contested long after the FIRs are filed. The real accountability question — whether the alleged paper leak occurred and who is responsible — risks being buried under the law-and-order framing.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did students protest in Patna on 22 July?
Students gathered in Patna on 22 July to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak. Thousands marched from Gandhi Maidan towards the Bihar Legislative Assembly as part of the demonstration.
What happened during the Patna NEET protest?
A section of the crowd allegedly turned violent, pelting stones at police personnel and media representatives. Police used water cannons and eventually a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. Some protesters allegedly also reached the BJP office and engaged in stone-pelting there.
Why did Patna Police release photographs of 117 people?
Patna Police released the photographs — captured during the 22 July protest — on their official social media accounts to seek public help in identifying individuals allegedly involved in stone-pelting and vandalism. Legal action will be initiated against those identified.
What legal action will be taken against the suspects?
According to police officials, all individuals identified from the released photographs as having participated in violence or vandalism will face legal proceedings in accordance with the law. The investigation is ongoing.
How has the NEET protest become a political issue in Bihar?
The 22 July violence has become a major political flashpoint, with the ruling alliance and the opposition offering conflicting accounts of the events and the police response. The broader NEET paper leak controversy has already triggered student unrest across India, making the Patna protest a focal point of national attention.
