NEET protest at Freedom Park: FIR against woman for Umar Khalid poster draws ire
Bengaluru's NEET protest at Freedom Park ignites political controversy; police file FIR over provocative posters displayed during demonstration.
You don’t have any Active Subscription.
Your active subscription(s)
Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription
Products you've access to
Additional Subscription Benefits
Need help with your subscription?
Updated - July 27, 2026 08:27 pm IST - Bengaluru
People gathered for the ‘victory celebrations’ following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation in Bengaluru on Sunday. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
Several students and activists have expressed their outrage over Bengaluru City Police registering a suo motu FIR against a woman for displaying a poster hailing jailed scholars Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, at a protest against NEET question paper leak at Freedom Park in Bengaluru recently.
The incident happened on July 24 a young woman allegedly displayed posters bearing messages hailing the two scholars, both accused in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots case booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. One of the posters also allegedly carried a derogatory slogan against Bengaluru police. Police alleged that the slogans were capable of provoking the public and disturbing communal harmony and public order. The posters were seized, but the woman left the spot and her identity is yet to be ascertained. Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which deals with wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot.
Aratrika, Bengaluru General Secretary of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), who had organised the protest at Freedom Park termed the FIR “baseless” and demanded that it should be withdrawn. She questioned how demanding justice for two scholars or expressing solidarity with them could amount to a criminal offence.
Clifton D’Rozario, a CPI(ML) leader said the Congress government should act against the police if it genuinely stood by its stated commitment to democratic values. “Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam are not convicted terrorists. They are undertrials. Umar’s book was released recently and we even held an event in Bengaluru, to which the police gave security. What has changed now?” he asked.
Shivani, from the Lawyers Association, argued that since undertrials are presumed innocent until proven guilty, expressing solidarity with them or demanding a fair and speedy trial falls within legitimate democratic discourse.
How Bengaluru’s youth showed up
‘This is only a beginning…,’ say youths in Bengaluru
From protest to celebration: Mood shifts at Freedom Park as Union Minister Pradhan resigns
Bengaluru rallies behind Delhi student protest, demand resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan
NEET: Congress, BJP workers detained during rival protests in Bengaluru
CJP protest in Bengaluru urges more participation, sustained questioning
The incident soon took a political turn, with Karnataka BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra accusing the Congress government and the Home Department of failing to act against what he described as “anti-national activities” during the protest. He questioned the government’s handling of the demonstration and demanded strict action against those responsible.
Hitting back at Mr. Vijayendra, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge asked him not to worry about the Bengaluru or Karnataka Police. “We are not the Delhi Police. We know when to exercise restraint, when to use force and how to uphold the law impartially. We are neither intimidated by your rhetoric nor influenced by your politics,” he said.
He also questioned the BJP as to why “the Modi Sarkar is incapable of conducting a trial? What is stopping your government from putting him on trial?” and RSS as the “real anti-nationals”.
Published - July 27, 2026 05:49 pm IST
Terms & conditions | Institutional Subscriber
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.
