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TMC demands answers over pellet gun use on protesters

Sagarika Ghose, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, demanded answers from the Centre over the reported use of pellet guns during a student protest in Delhi, calling it a grave threat to democratic rights.

Addressing the media, Ghose said, "There is a really important and serious issue before the Govt. Pellet guns were used on unarmed youth who were protesting peacefully. There are reports that 7 rounds of pellet guns were fired at Connaught Place. A youth sustained injuries in his eyes and lost his vision in that eye. This is really serious and dangerous issue..."

Questioning the use of force, she added, "If lethal or semi-lethal guns are used against peaceful protests, what does it mean? This is a direct attack on democracy." reported ANI.

Ghose said the Union government must explain how pellet guns came to be used against protesters. "HM, PM will have to take accountability. They will have to answer as to how pellet gun was used against unarmed youth. Who ordered it? Who authorised it? Home Minister will have to give a clarification..."

She also sought an apology from the Centre, saying, "We want an apology on behalf of the Prime Minister and Home Minister, we want to know exactly who authorised the use of pellet guns on unarmed peaceful youth protesters."

BJP MP backs tough bill against exam paper leaks

BJP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal said the government is bringing in fresh legislation aimed at tackling examination malpractice, including copying, cheating and question paper leaks. He said the proposed law also targets organised groups involved in such offences, accusing them of putting the future of students at risk.

“A new bill is being introduced to curb copying, cheating, and paper leaks, and to impose stringent penalties on the organised gangs that engage in such activities and jeopardise students' futures.”

Mittal said the proposed legislation prescribes tough punishment for those found guilty of exam-related fraud, including a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine of ₹10 crore, with the goal of discouraging such crimes.

“I would like to thank the PM for personally stepping forward to discuss the issue of paper leaks with students and engaging in a direct dialogue with them,” he added.

Congress MP seeks Rajya Sabha debate on Delhi student protest

Congress MP Dr Syed Naseer Hussain has submitted a Rule 267 notice in the Rajya Sabha, asking for the day's scheduled business to be set aside so members can take up an immediate discussion on police action against students who held protests in Delhi on July 20.

His notice seeks a debate on "the alleged excessive use of force against peacefully protesting students in Delhi on 20 July 2026, the reported use of pellet guns and tear gas, the assault on women students," reported the Hindustan Times. 

Hussain has also asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make "a comprehensive statement fixing responsibility and explaining the authorisation of police action." He further urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assure the Upper House that "the constitutional right to peaceful protest will be protected."

Calling the allegations serious, the Congress leader said the issue deserved urgent attention from the Rajya Sabha and warranted an immediate discussion in the House.

Congress seeks Lok Sabha debate on July 20 police action against students

Congress MP Hibi Eden gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha to discuss "the disproportionate and excessive use of force by security personnel, including the Rapid Action Force, against young students during the "Chalo Sansad" march near Jantar Mantar on July 20."

Govt to introduce anti-paper leak Bill in Lok Sabha, young MPs to lead debate

The government will introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Monday, with the NDA expected to rely on its younger MPs to lead an eight-to-10-hour debate on the proposed law. The legislation is aimed at strengthening the existing legal framework in the wake of the nationwide outrage over the NEET paper leak.

The Bill, which comes weeks after anti-paper leak protests across the country, proposes setting up fast-track courts in every state to exclusively hear paper leak cases. It also requires investigations into such cases to be completed within two months.

Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh will introduce the legislation in the House. The debate is likely to last between eight and 10 hours, with BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj and Tejasvi Surya expected to lead the NDA's side.

Other NDA speakers are likely to include Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu of the TDP, JD(U)'s Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Shiv Sena's Shrikant Shinde, NCP's Sunil Tatkare, Apna Dal's Anupriya Patel and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)'s Arun Bharti.

SC to hear pleas alleging police excesses on students during CJP-led protest

The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday two separate pleas alleging police excesses against students protesting over NEET paper leak and other exam irregularities. According to the apex court's cause list of July 27, the pleas would come up for hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.

A bench headed by the CJI had on July 24 agreed to hear these petitions after the matter was mentioned before it. "Police is using excessive force against the students," senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan had told the bench while mentioning the pleas for urgent listing.

Sankaranarayanan had told the bench that two separate petitions were filed regarding the violence that took place during students' protests across the country.

The Cockroach Janta Party-led march on July 20 in Delhi witnessed clashes between protesters and security personnel, who used lathis and tear gas shells to disperse crowds attempting to move towards Parliament.

The protesters were demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue.

Unidentified woman booked over placards supporting Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam

Police have registered an FIR against an unidentified woman for allegedly displaying placards carrying slogans in support of jailed activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who are facing charges in the 2020 Delhi riots case, during a student protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, officials said.

According to the complaint lodged by a police sub-inspector deployed on bandobast duty, the incident took place between 5 pm and 5.30 pm on Friday while a large gathering of protesters was raising slogans.

The officer alleged that she noticed a young woman holding placards bearing the slogans "Umar Khalid Zindabad", "Sharjeel Imam Zindabad" and "Ukhaad Le BLR Police".

The complainant said she attempted to make her way through the crowd and seize the placards, but other protesters allegedly concealed them before she could reach the woman. A search of the immediate area did not yield the placards because of the large number of people present, the complaint said.

"Subsequently, CCTV footage from Freedom Park and recordings from cameras carried by personnel deployed on camera duty were examined. During the review, it was found that an unidentified young woman had deliberately displayed provocative placards with the intention of inciting unrest and disturbing public peace," the complaint said.

The protest, organised by student groups, was attended by around 1,000 to 1,500 people, including members of various student organisations. The demonstrators were protesting against the alleged police lathicharge on students in Delhi and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

A case has been registered under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and further investigation is underway, police said.

Delhi Police may take action on abusive content made against Modi during CJP protest

Delhi Police are contemplating action against "objectionable" and "abusive" social media posts targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders during the Jantar Mantar CJP protest, a source told news agency PTI on Sunday.

According to the person, the police may issue notices to social media platforms seeking the removal of such posts, videos, and comments. "After review of content uploaded during and after the protest, police will issue notices to remove such posts which are abusive in nature," the police source said. "An exercise to identify such content across different social media platforms is already underway," he added.

The police are also examining whether any of the content violated any law or had the potential to disturb public order, he said. According to the source, the Delhi Police's Social Media Monitoring Team has been surveilling social media throughout the day to identify objectionable content related to the protest. 

INDIA bloc set to raise alleged excesses against NEET protesters in Parliament

INDIA bloc parties are set to press for an urgent discussion in Parliament on the alleged use of excessive force against students protesting over the NEET paper leak, with Rahul Gandhi writing to Home Minister Amit Shah seeking accountability and TMC's Sagarika Ghose moving a notice for the suspension of the day's business to take up the issue of "grave national importance" on Monday.

While the Centre is scheduled to introduce a bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday to strengthen the anti-paper leak law and the Cockroach Janta Party(CJP) has called off its agitation following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister and the acceptance of other demands by the government, Congress and other opposition parties are in no mood to relent.

They are expected to demand answers from the government in both Houses over allegations of pellet gun use, the deployment of men in plain clothes during the July 20 protest and the injuries suffered by several students.

In a letter to Shah, Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, demanded accountability for what he termed the "barbaric assault" on peacefully protesting students and questioned whether the home minister had approved the use of "lethal force", including pellet guns, against the youth.

The Congress leader alleged that hundreds of students had suffered injuries during the police action and claimed women protesters were assaulted by police personnel.

Pradhan's resignation not the end, fight for justice for students continues: Congress

The Mumbai Congress on Sunday said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak was “not the end”, asserting that its agitation would continue until students receive justice.

Addressing a ‘Tiranga’ march in the Chandivali area to celebrate Pradhan’s resignation, senior party leader Naseem Khan demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance examination and strict action against those responsible.

“The resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan is only the first step in the students’ fight for justice. It's not the end. Justice will be done only when there is an impartial investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court and every guilty person is punished,” he said.

Khan also demanded that all cases registered against students during protests in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra be withdrawn immediately. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to students across the country over the alleged injustice meted out to them.

The march was led by Khan and Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. It began from the Bail Bazaar Municipal School and culminated at Sakinaka Metro station, where participants sang the national anthem and distributed chocolates.