Student protests over exam leaks and police action continue across India; over 150 detained in Mumbai
Protests by students across India over examination paper leaks and the police action against demonstrators in New Delhi continued on Thursday, with detentions reported in multiple cities.
In Mumbai, police detained over 150 protesters and registered two first information reports (FIRs) for violating prohibitory orders. This brings the total number of cases linked to the ongoing student agitation to 17. While large gatherings at Shivaji Park, which marked the protests earlier this week, were absent on Thursday, demonstrations were held at several locations, including Mankhurd, Darukhana, and the Mumbai University campus in Kalina.
“Wherever demonstrations began, participants were detained by police,” said a member of Mumbai Against Suppression of Students (MASS), a collective coordinating several protests.
In Bihar, students staged marches in various districts, while in Haryana, a hunger strike continued at a university campus. In Tamil Nadu, protesters demanded the complete abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), citing alleged irregularities.
The protests have been sparked by leaks in competitive examinations and the subsequent police crackdown on student demonstrators in the national capital. Student groups have said their demands are about rights and accountability, not political affiliations.
Authorities have maintained that the detentions were necessary to maintain public order. The situation remains fluid, with further protests anticipated in the coming days.
