Thiruvananthapuram, July 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Friday announced that the state government has decided to withdraw police cases registered in connection with statewide protests held in support of the agitation against alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
Chennithala said several representations seeking withdrawal of the cases had been submitted to the Chief Minister and the Home Department by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan, Tushar Gandhi and other prominent personalities.
Acting on these requests, the Home Minister said he had directed the State Police Chief not to proceed further with the cases.
“These are general law-and-order cases. There was no serious violence or atrocity. Even the Supreme Court adopted a positive approach towards the issue. Therefore, there is no need to pursue these cases further,” Chennithala said.
The protests were organised in Kerala in solidarity with demonstrations held in New Delhi over allegations of irregularities in the conduct of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
During the briefing, Chennithala also announced the launch of ‘Operation Toofan’, a joint initiative by the Police and Prisons Departments to curb the supply and use of narcotics inside prisons.
He said raids had begun across prisons in the state from 2 a.m. following intelligence inputs suggesting that some inmates were involved in drug use and trafficking within prison premises. The minister warned that strict action would be taken against those found violating the law.
Expressing concern over reports of narcotics being delivered to students through online platforms, Chennithala termed the issue serious. Referring to the recent Perambra case in Kozhikode, where three teachers and a delivery executive were allegedly under investigation, he appealed to delivery workers not to become part of drug networks.
He also urged people to stop social media campaigns that encourage or facilitate drug-related activities.
On the controversy over the PM SHRI scheme, Chennithala alleged that the previous LDF government had signed an agreement with the Centre without informing its coalition partner CPI or securing Cabinet approval.
He said the current government could not withdraw from the agreement as it would lead to the loss of central assistance for Kerala. Instead, he said, the state would seek greater flexibility from the Centre regarding curriculum-related issues and the selection of schools under the scheme.
Targeting CPI(M) leader and Rajya Sabha member John Brittas, Chennithala questioned why objections were not raised when the agreement was signed during the previous Pinarayi Vijayan government and accused the LDF of attempting to shift responsibility onto the present administration.
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