Delhi Protests: Woman in ICU as Clashes Over NEET Leak Injure Hundreds

A 20-year-old woman is in intensive care at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after being injured during a protest by the Chhatra Janata Party (CJP) in Delhi on Monday. Police said she collided with a barricade during a crackdown on the 'Sansad Chalo' march at Jantar Mantar.

According to hospital sources, 90 students were injured in total, with 79 discharged by Tuesday morning. Delhi Police reported that 118 of its personnel and around 60 protesters were injured, and over 20 police vehicles were damaged.

The protest, which drew thousands, demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination, including a paper leak controversy. Demonstrators attempted to march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament, leading to widespread clashes.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda visited both Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Lady Hardinge Hospital on Tuesday to meet injured protesters and discuss their treatment with doctors.

Earlier, a two-member CJP delegation met Nadda, demanding the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation of Minister Pradhan, and compensation of Rs 1 crore for families of NEET aspirants who reportedly died by suicide after the leak. Nadda appealed to protesters to end their month-long sit-in and cooperate with authorities.

Despite the clashes, protesters returned to Jantar Mantar on Tuesday morning, setting up tents again after police dismantled them. Heavy police and Rapid Action Force units remain deployed.

The agitation has drawn wider political attention, with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi leading a protest march towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence on Tuesday.