Kolkata, July 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Kolkata Police have arrested 11 people in connection with violence during a protest against alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and corruption in the education sector, officials said on Saturday.
Police said none of those arrested were students and claimed two of the accused were apprehended from Andal in West Burdwan district while allegedly attempting to leave the state.
Among those arrested are Mohammad Afroz, a resident of Rajabagan in Metiabruz, and Mohammad Azad of Garden Reach. Police said Afroz was identified through video footage recorded during the unrest and was traced after an intensive search.
The other accused have been identified as Arshad Ali, Irfan Khurshid, Mohammad Alamgir, Imran Ahmed, Khalid Reza, Mohammad Moinuddin, Zamir Ahmed, Mohsin Khan and Deepak Bhowmik.
The arrests came a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warned of strict action against those responsible for the violence. Addressing the State Assembly, she said police had identified around 70 participants in the procession who, according to the government, were not students and had no connection with the NEET agitation.
The protest, held in Kolkata’s Esplanade area on Friday, was organised over alleged corruption in the education sector and the NEET question paper leak. Authorities alleged that protesters attacked police personnel and targeted journalists during the demonstration.
Police have registered seven cases in connection with the incident—six at Hare Street Police Station and one at Entally Police Station. The Anti-Goon Act has also been invoked, marking its first application since the law was recently enacted by the state government.
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