NEETPaperLeak – Congress Protest Outside BJP Office Triggers Tension and Clashes in Ranchi
NEETPaperLeak –Political tensions escalated in Ranchi on Thursday as Congress workers held a demonstration outside the BJP’s state headquarters over the alleged NEET paper leak, resulting in clashes between supporters of both parties despite extensive security arrangements.
Congress Demonstration Over Alleged NEET Paper Leak
A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party staged a protest outside the Congress office, the Congress responded by organizing a march to the BJP’s state headquarters in Ranchi. The demonstration was centered on allegations related to the NEET paper leak, with party leaders demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Congress workers gathered at Harmu Ground before proceeding towards the BJP office. As the march advanced, protesters crossed the first police barricade but were stopped at the final security checkpoint established near the BJP headquarters. The police had already deployed a strong force to prevent any disruption to law and order.
Confrontation Escalates Despite Security Measures
The situation became tense when supporters of both political parties came within close range of each other. Protesters from the Congress and the BJP raised slogans against one another, and the confrontation soon turned chaotic.
According to reports from the scene, individuals from both groups allegedly threw stones, tomatoes, eggs and water bottles during the exchange. A journalist covering the protest sustained injuries amid the disorder, highlighting the intensity of the confrontation.
Although police had erected multiple barricades and stationed personnel across the area, some workers from both parties managed to breach the security lines, leading to direct face-to-face exchanges that continued for nearly 45 minutes.
Police Step In to Restore Order
As the confrontation continued, security personnel intervened to prevent the situation from worsening. Police eventually carried out a mild lathi charge to disperse the protesters after repeated slogan-shouting and clashes between the rival groups.
Authorities later succeeded in separating the two sides and restoring normalcy in the area. The deployment included police officers, Rapid Response Teams and other security personnel positioned around the BJP office and nearby locations well before the protest began.
Rival Parties Exchange Political Slogans
During the protest, both the Congress and BJP workers voiced sharp political slogans targeting each other’s leadership. BJP supporters raised slogans accusing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and called on the Jharkhand government to deliver justice to young people affected by the alleged examination irregularities.
Congress workers, in turn, demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan while also raising slogans directed at the BJP leadership. The slogan exchange continued throughout much of the demonstration and added to the already charged atmosphere.
FIR Filed Following the Protest
After the protest concluded, Ranchi Mahanagar Congress president Kumar Raja approached the Argora Police Station and lodged a First Information Report (FIR). In his complaint, he alleged that BJP workers deliberately attempted to provoke violence during the demonstration.
Kumar Raja also submitted a pen drive to the police, claiming it contained video footage showing BJP workers allegedly storing stones inside the party office before the protest. According to him, the material supports the allegation that preparations had been made to target Congress demonstrators.
Police have not publicly confirmed the authenticity of the submitted footage or announced any findings regarding the allegations. The matter is expected to be examined as part of the investigation into the incidents that occurred during the protest.
The confrontation marks another chapter in the growing political dispute surrounding the alleged NEET paper leak, an issue that continues to generate strong reactions from opposition parties and the ruling BJP. Authorities are likely to review complaints filed by both sides while assessing the events that unfolded outside the BJP headquarters in Ranchi.