Protests erupt in Ranchi over NEET irregularities row, police intervene after clashes

Ranchi: Amid the ongoing controversy over the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak and its subsequent cancellation, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Indian National Congress, staged protest outside the BJP state office in Ranchi as part of their 'Mashaal March' agitation over the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

Demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue and the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA), a large number of NSUI members marched to the BJP state office and held a demonstration calling for a new, transparent examination system.

The protest began at Harmu Ground on Tuesday, from where the students marched to the BJP office and staged a sit-in for nearly two hours. NSUI leaders warned that they would gherao the Union Minister's residence in New Delhi if he did not resign within 10 days.

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Addressing the gathering, the NSUI state president Vinay Oroan told TOI, "The NEET paper leak was not only an irregularity of an examination but an assault on dreams, prospect and mental health of lakhs of hard working students. When the examination system is not impartial the faith of students is broken."

The NSUI town president Satish Kesri said "My organisation would stand by the NEET aspirants in the future as well." 

Meanwhile, NUSI Ranchi University president Kaif Ali said that the struggle would be organised from the streets to the Parliament.

The protest was called off around 6:30 pm as the convoy of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was to pass through the area. A heavy police deployment remained in place during the agitation to maintain law and order.

Clash between ABVP and NSUI

It has been reported that the demonstration turned violent in the area after a clash broke out between NSUI and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists.

As per HT media report, ABVP activists, who were already present near the BJP office, confronted the protesting NSUI members as they arrived. An intense verbal argument erupted over the examination row, with both sides raising opposing high-decibel slogans. 

The situation spiralled out of control when student leaders and activists from both factions breached the distance, becoming physically entangled in a fistfight.

Following information about the unrest, police teams from several nearby police stations, including Argora and Pundag, rushed to the spot. The police intervened and separated the two groups, bringing the situation under control and preventing further escalation.

Clash between BJYM and NSUI

Clashes erupted between Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers and National Students' Union of India (NSUI) workers during the protest outside the BJP office in Ranchi.

This comes at a time when Members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) staged protests in several parts of the country as part of their nationwide 'Mashaal March' agitation over the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

Addressing the media persons during a protest in Telangana, NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar alleged that the government had been unable to curb the paper leak incidents, claiming that widespread anger among students reflected dissatisfaction with the ruling establishment.

Political tensions continue over the NEET-UG 2026 controversy, which led to the cancellation of the examination held on May 3 across 551 cities in India and 14 international centres, with over 22 lakh candidates appearing.

The re-examination is scheduled for June 21 under enhanced security measures mandated by the Union Education Ministry. 

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