NEET protest clashes: Kolkata's Esplanade turns battlefield after CJP-Left rally
Synopsis
A joint CJP-Left rally over the NEET paper leak brought central Kolkata to a standstill on 24 July, with protesters hurling bottles and bricks at police, who retaliated with baton charges and teargas at Esplanade. The clashes signal that the NEET controversy is fast becoming a street-level flashpoint, not just a parliamentary one.
Key Takeaways
Clashes erupted at Esplanade, Kolkata on 24 July during a joint rally by the CJP and Left party youth and student wings over the NEET paper leak .
Protesters hurled glass bottles, bricks, and shoes at police; security forces responded with baton charges and teargas shells .
Demonstrators marched from Sealdah to Esplanade , demanding transparency in NEET and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan .
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had earlier warned he would not tolerate unruly activities or anti-national slogans at the rally.
The CJP was denied independent police permission for a rally and subsequently joined the Left-organised protest.
No official police statement on arrests had been issued at the time of reporting.
Clashes broke out at Kolkata's Esplanade area on Friday, 24 July as a joint rally by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the youth and students' wings of several Left parties over the NEET examination paper leak descended into violence, prompting police to deploy baton charges and teargas shells. The protest paralysed one of the city's busiest intersections for several hours, causing severe traffic disruptions across central Kolkata.
How the clashes unfolded
Protesters assembled at Dorin Crossing near Esplanade and began marching towards Rani Rashmoni Road, where a large police contingent blocked their path and attempted to disperse the crowd. Demonstrators responded by hurling glass bottles, bricks, and shoes at the security personnel. Police first resorted to baton charges and subsequently fired teargas shells, turning the Esplanade zone into what eyewitnesses described as a virtual battlefield. Several media personnel covering the event were also reportedly heckled by protesters.
Background: NEET paper leak and the demand for accountability
Left student organisations had earlier launched a procession from Sealdah to Esplanade, demanding greater transparency in national entrance examinations such as the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. CJP supporters subsequently joined the march, swelling the crowd. The CJP had originally sought police permission to hold an independent rally on Friday, but was denied; it then merged with the Left-organised protest.
Administration's stance
Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari issued a stern warning, stating he would not tolerate what he described as unruly or anti-social activities in connection with the rally. Adhikari also cautioned that slogans of an anti-national character raised during the demonstration would not be permitted. Despite the warning, the rally proceeded and violence erupted.
Arrests and police response
At the time of reporting, police had not issued any official statement on the number of persons detained or arrested in connection with the clashes. The scale of the police deployment — spanning multiple units across the Esplanade and adjoining roads — indicated that authorities had anticipated potential disorder. The situation had not fully normalised when initial reports were filed.
With the NEET controversy continuing to roil national politics, further protests in Kolkata and other cities cannot be ruled out in the days ahead.
Point of View
Raising questions about both the adequacy of crowd management and the political calculation behind denying the CJP its own rally permission. If the Centre does not move decisively on accountability for the paper leak, these protests are likely to intensify and spread beyond Kolkata.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did protests break out at Esplanade in Kolkata on 24 July?
Protesters from the CJP and Left party student and youth wings gathered at Esplanade on 24 July to demonstrate against the NEET examination paper leak and demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The rally turned violent when police blocked the march and demonstrators began hurling objects at security personnel.
What action did police take against the protesters?
Police deployed a large contingent to stop the march near Rani Rashmoni Road, first using baton charges and later firing teargas shells to disperse the crowd. No official statement on the number of arrests had been issued at the time of reporting.
Why did the CJP join the Left rally instead of holding its own protest?
The CJP had originally applied for police permission to organise an independent rally in Kolkata on 24 July, but the request was denied. The party then decided to merge with the protest rally already organised by the students' and youth wings of various Left parties.
What is the NEET paper leak controversy?
The NEET paper leak refers to allegations that question papers for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test — India's primary medical college entrance exam — were compromised before the examination, giving some candidates an unfair advantage. The controversy has triggered nationwide protests and demands for a re-test and ministerial accountability.
What did Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari say about the rally?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari warned on Friday that he would not tolerate unruly or anti-social activities related to the rally, and stated that anti-national slogans would not be permitted. Despite the warning, clashes broke out between protesters and police at Esplanade.
