Congress, BJP Workers Detained in Bengaluru Protests Over NEET Row

Bengaluru police on Wednesday detained workers from both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during rival protests over irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). The detentions occurred as both parties attempted to demonstrate outside each other's state headquarters, violating restrictions imposed by the Karnataka High Court.

Congress workers gathered outside the BJP state headquarters in Malleswaram, holding placards and raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. They were protesting the alleged NEET paper leak, the police lathi-charge on protesters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, and the detention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and others. Some Youth Congress members burnt effigies of the Prime Minister and the Education Minister.

Police intervened, citing High Court orders that permit public protests only at the designated venue, Freedom Park. The demonstrators were taken into preventive detention and security was tightened around the BJP office with barricades.

Simultaneously, BJP leaders led by Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok staged a counter-protest in front of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office on Queen's Road. Police also detained Mr. Ashok and other BJP workers, citing the same High Court restrictions. They were taken to the High Grounds police station and later released.

After his release, Mr. Ashok submitted a petition to the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner alleging that Congress workers attacked BJP leaders with eggs, iron rods, and clubs. He claimed that even the police bus carrying detained BJP workers was targeted, and that eggs were thrown at BJP MLA B.P. Harish. He demanded a detailed investigation and strict action against those responsible.

The situation remained under control following the preventive detentions, with heavy police deployment in the area. Both parties have been directed to use Freedom Park for any future protests.