The government’s decision followed the release of more than 50 people detained on July 25 to prevent them from joining a protest. File.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Assam government has decided to withdraw five cases leading to the arrest of 13 persons who participated in the protests against the NEET examination paper leak, announcing that the “matter shall be treated as closed”.
In an order issued late Monday night (July 27, 2026), the police said no adverse action would be taken against the protesters. They also said the process to review the arrest of the 13 persons picked up on July 23 and 24 was being expedited.
The government’s decision followed the release of more than 50 people detained on July 25 to prevent them from joining a protest called by the Students’ Federation of India.
Among those arrested was 23-year-old Mustahid Ahmed, who reportedly asked a policeman outside a protest venue why his name tag was missing from his uniform.
He was one of five persons held in Guwahati on July 24. The other four were advocate Ariful Islam, 28, student Chinmoy Deka, 24, and food delivery agents Amir Ali, 26, and Mehdi Alam, 26. Among the others, three students were arrested in Lakhimpur, and Congress leader Birinchi Bora was held in Nagaon town.
Most of them were booked under penal Sections dealing with criminal conspiracy; endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India; endangering human life or personal safety; using criminal force to stop a public servant from doing his or her job; wrongful confinement; rioting and unlawful assembly; and publishing or circulating false statements.
Mr. Bora was arrested on July 24 for allegedly organising and mobilising an “unlawful assembly” in Nagaon on July 23. According to the case against him, he also “instigated minor students” and “raised provocative slogans and displayed objectionable placards”.
Earlier, the Assam unit of the All India Lawyers Association for Justice condemned Mr. Islam’s arrest as unlawful. A member of the association also said the two food delivery agents had nothing to do with the protest.
“What is most alarming is that, at the time of his detention, he [Mr. Islam] was in the court dress of an advocate and repeatedly identified himself as a member of the Bar, producing his Bar Council identity card before the police personnel present at the spot,” the association’s statement said, adding that the arrested advocate was merely a bystander at the protest venue in Guwahati.
Published – July 28, 2026 07:59 pm IST
