Mumbai Students Protest NEET Paper Leak For Third Day

On Wednesday, the streets of Dadar and Chembur in Mumbai witnessed a massive student-led protest against the NEET paper leak, with over 5,000 demonstrators, predominantly students and young activists, participating in the agitation. This marked the third consecutive day of protests in the city.

The protesters, who were predominantly students and young activists, demanded systemic educational reforms and the immediate resignation of the union education minister. The movement is aligned with the nationwide campaign spearheaded by the Cockroach Janata Party.

Despite a heavy police crackdown and preventive detentions across key transit hubs, thousands of youths echoed the spirit of Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, effectively turning central and eastern Mumbai into ground zero for student activism. Several protesters, who had participated in the gatherings over the last two days, alleged that they were kept under house arrest by the local police at their respective residences.

Tensions flared early in the afternoon as law enforcement deployed heavy bandobast around high-profile locations, including Shivaji Park, Sena Bhavan, and Veer Savarkar Marg. Young protesters alleged that the police stationed themselves at critical exit points of the Dadar Metro Station and profiled every young individual, intercepting anyone who appeared to be a demonstrator.

At the protest sites, early arrivals faced swift detentions, with female protesters among those seen being forcibly bundled into police vans. Media personnel covering the gathering also reported high-handedness, alleging that officers attempted to restrict spot reporting, confiscated phones used for recording the scene, and briefly detained at least one journalist.

The protesters chanted slogans such as "Save Education," "Inquilab Zindabad," and "Azadi," and waved placards reading “Padhne Do, Badhne Do” (Let Us Study, Let Us Grow) and “Desh Bachao, Kursi Nahi” (Save the Nation, Not the Seat). According to the police, around 1,500 protesters had gathered at Shivaji Park and around 200 of them were detained as no permission was granted for the public demonstration.

The protests in Mumbai are part of a larger nationwide movement against the NEET paper leak, which has sparked widespread outrage among students and educators. The incident has raised concerns about the integrity of the education system and the need for systemic reforms.

The Mumbai police have stated that they will take further action against the detained protesters as per the law. The situation remains tense, with students and activists vowing to continue their protests until their demands are met.

The NEET paper leak has significant implications for the education system in India, and the protests in Mumbai reflect the growing frustration among students and educators. The movement is likely to continue, with students and activists pushing for meaningful reforms and accountability from the government.

In conclusion, the student-led protests in Mumbai against the NEET paper leak have entered their third day, with thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets to demand educational reforms and the resignation of the union education minister. The movement is part of a larger nationwide campaign, and its outcome will have significant implications for the education system in India.