Assam withdraws cases against CJP protesters

The government’s decision followed the release of more than 50 people detained on July 25 to prevent them from joining the protest. File. | Photo credit: PTI

The Assam government has decided to withdraw five cases that led to the arrest of 13 people who were involved in protests against the leak of NEET exam papers and announced that “the matter will be considered closed”.

In an order issued late on Monday evening (July 27, 2026), the police said no adverse action would be taken against the protesters. They also said the arrest review process for the 13 people detained on July 23 and 24 had been 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 allegedly asked a police officer outside the protest site why his name tag was missing from his uniform.

He was one of the five persons arrested in Guwahati on 24 July. The other four were advocate Ariful Islam, 28, student Chinmoy Deka, 24, and food delivery agents Amir Ali, 26, and Mehdi Alam, 26. Among others, three students were arrested in Lakhimpur and Congress leader Birinchi Bora was detained in Nagaon Bora town.

Most of them were assigned to criminal sections dealing with criminal conspiracy; threats to the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India; threat to human life or personal safety; the use of criminal force to prevent a public official from doing his job; wrongful imprisonment; disorderly conduct and unlawful assembly; and posting or disseminating false statements.

Mr. Bora was arrested on July 24 for allegedly organizing and mobilizing an “illegal assembly” in Nagaon on July 23. According to the case against him, he also “incited minor students” and “raised provocative slogans and displayed objectionable banners.”

Earlier, the Assam unit of the All India Lawyers Association for Justice condemned Mr. Islam’s arrest as illegal. The association member also said the two food delivery agents had nothing to do with the protest.

“Most disturbingly, at the time of his arrest, he (Mr Islam) was wearing a lawyer’s dress and repeatedly identified himself as a member of the Bar Association, presenting his Bar Council card in front of police personnel present at the scene,” the association said in a statement, adding that the arrested lawyer was a mere bystander at the protest site in Guwahati.

Published – 28 Jul 2026 19:59 IST