Security personnel conduct baton charge during a joint protest rally by Students Federation of India (SFI) along with Cockroach Janata Party demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue, in Kolkata, West Bengal. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
Earlier, police had also arrested 14 more accused in response to the seven FIRs, including five of lodged by the seven injured media personnel
Kolkata police on Monday (July 27, 2026) arrested two more people in connection with the violence that erupted in the Esplanade area during a students’ protest rally led by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and several Left-affiliated students’ wings on Friday (July 24, 2026) demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. With this, the total number of arrests rose to 16.
Meanwhile, the CJP, in a social media post, appealed to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to release all the protesters and withdraw the FIRs, as it was promised by the Union Ministers Jagat Prakash Nadda and Jitendra Singh as part of a key demand by the party.
The protest started from the Sealdah station, where thousands of young students and also people from various sections of society showed up. However, the peaceful protest turned violent when the police used force to disperse the crowd as soon as they reached Esplanade. The protesters started a dharna at the Dorina Crossing in Esplanade, following which the police lathi-charged and also fired two rounds of fire gas. Several journalists have also been injured during the clash.
The two accused, arrested on Monday (July 27, 2026), have been identified as Waqar Azam (35) and Muhammed Javed Akhtar (32).
Earlier, police had also arrested 14 more accused in response to the seven FIRs, five of which were lodged by the seven injured media personnel. Another FIR was suo motu lodged by the Kolkata police itself at the Hare Street police station against unknown persons for allegedly delivering provocative speeches and slogans by the protesters, attacking the police personnels, and unlawfully gathering at Dorina Crossing.
On Monday (July 27, 2026), police also took five of the accused again to Dorina Crossing to recreate the violent scene in the protest.
Meanwhile, the CM also said that 70 more people were identified for their involvement in the violence against whom necessary actions will be taken under the recently enforced West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026. This new law has provisions for preventive detention of up to 12 months, while the accused cannot even approach for legal help. This will be the first instance of the law being put into practice in West Bengal.
On Sunday (July 26, 2026), he also claimed that Islamic fundamentalists, possibly with the backing of foreign forces, had perpetrated the violence during protests in Kolkata on Friday (July 24, 2026).
Published – July 28, 2026 01:45 am IST
