Kolkata police on Saturday, 25 July arrested 11 people in connection with violence that erupted during a student and youth procession in Esplanade, Kolkata the previous day, as the West Bengal government moved swiftly to invoke a newly enacted anti-goon law for the first time. Authorities confirmed that none of the arrested individuals were students, and two of the accused were apprehended while allegedly attempting to flee to another state.

Key Arrests and How They Were Traced

Two of the accused — Mohammad Afroz, a resident of the Rajabagan area of Metiabruz in Kolkata, and Mohammad Azad, a resident of Garden Reach — were tracked to Andal in West Burdwan district through video footage analysis. Investigators raided Andal after receiving a tip-off on Afroz's whereabouts, arresting both men there.

Among the others arrested is Arshad Ali (50), a resident of the Amherst Street police station area. Four individuals were held from the Jorasanko police station area: Irfan Khurshid, Mohammad Alamgir, Imran Ahmed, and Khalid Reza. Additionally, Mohammad Moinuddin from Tiljala, Zamir Ahmed from Beniapukur, and Mohsin Khan and Deepak Bhowmik from Karaya were also taken into custody.

What Triggered the Unrest

A procession was organised at Esplanade on Friday, 24 July, ostensibly against corruption in education and alleged leaks in the NEET examination. It is alleged that as the march reached Dorina Crossing, shoes and bottles were thrown at police, and journalists were targeted. According to the Chief Minister, the police had been ordered to exercise restraint and did not retaliate. Six journalists were reportedly seriously injured and subsequently hospitalised.

A total of seven cases have been registered in connection with Friday's incident — six at Hare Street police station and one at Entally. The Anti-Goon Act, a law recently passed by the state assembly, has been applied to these cases — marking its first invocation since enactment.

What the Chief Minister Said

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had warned of strict action on Friday night, and followed up with a statement in the State Assembly on Saturday morning. He said, 'Everyone saw that the police were restrained. That was the order. They did not fall into any trap. There was a procession. After reaching the Dorina Crossing, shoes and bottles started being thrown from there. Journalists were targeted. They wanted the police to lathicharge, to play a drama. But the police did not give that opportunity. Six journalists were seriously injured. They have been treated at the hospital.'

Adhikari also stated that 70 people who participated in the procession have been identified as non-students. He claimed that none of the 70 are affiliated with what he termed the 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP), and that they have no connection with the NEET movement. He named Mohammad Afroz among five individuals he described as 'goons' responsible for the unrest, calling him a 'notorious miscreant'.

Broader Context: NEET Protests Across India

The Kolkata protest was part of a wider wave of demonstrations across India over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 examination, including paper leak allegations that have drawn national attention. The West Bengal government's decision to invoke the Anti-Goon Act signals an intent to distinguish between legitimate student protest and alleged infiltration by non-student elements — a distinction that critics and opposition groups may contest as the investigation unfolds.

With 70 more individuals identified but not yet arrested, further detentions are likely in the coming days as police continue to examine video evidence from Friday's procession.