Student at NEET protest alleges assault in Bengaluru, police file FIR

A 19-year-old student associated with the All India Students’ Association (AISA) has alleged that four unidentified men assaulted them in the Jalahalli area of Bengaluru on July 28. The student was reportedly participating in a protest related to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) when the incident occurred.

AISA, in a statement, claimed that the attackers were “suspected goons” linked to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organisation affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The police have not confirmed this allegation, and the First Information Report (FIR) filed in the case does not mention any organisational role or motive.

The Bengaluru police registered an FIR against unknown persons. “We are investigating the case, and efforts are on to identify and trace the four accused. No arrests have been made so far,” a police officer said. The officer added that CCTV footage from the area is being examined and that investigators have sought assistance from the public to identify the attackers.

The incident has drawn attention to the safety of students engaged in demonstrations. AISA has demanded a swift investigation and asked the police to ensure that the accused are brought to justice. The organisation has also urged the police to provide security to the student and other protestors if needed.

AISA is a student wing associated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), while ABVP is considered close to the Sangh Parivar. Both organisation have been active in student politics across Indian campuses, and their members have sometimes clashed during protests. However, the police have not yet established whether the alleged assault in Bengaluru was connected to the student’s participation in the NEET protest or to any political rivalry.

The NEET examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency, has been a subject of dispute across several states. Allegations of question paper leaks, arbitrary grace marks, and discrepancies in results have led to large-scale protests by students and political organisations. Multiple petitions related to the exam’s conduct are currently pending before the Supreme Court, which is examining the matter.

The Jalahalli area, where the alleged assault took place, is a mixed residential and industrial locality in the northern part of Bengaluru. Police have appealed to witnesses to come forward with information that could help identify the accused. The student’s identity has not been disclosed, and no further details about the nature of injuries have been released. A medical examination was conducted as part of the procedure, and the report will be part of the investigation, police said.

The police have not specified the sections of the Indian Penal Code under which the FIR was lodged. They have urged all parties to maintain calm and allow the legal process to proceed.