Ranchi: A protest over the alleged NEET paper leak turned chaotic in Ranchi on Thursday as Congress and BJP workers clashed near the BJP’s state headquarters on Harmu Road, with both sides hurling eggs, tomatoes and water bottles amid heavy sloganeering.
Thousands of Congress workers marched towards the BJP office demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and action over the alleged examination irregularities. However, police stopped the procession about 100 metres from the party office after setting up multiple layers of barricades.
As Congress workers attempted to move forward and reportedly tried to remove the barricades, they were stopped by security personnel, leading to pushing and jostling between protesters and the police.
Meanwhile, BJP supporters gathered outside the party office carrying party flags and raising slogans against the Congress and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. As workers from both parties came face-to-face, the situation quickly escalated.
Eyewitnesses said eggs, tomatoes and water bottles were thrown by rival groups. In a dramatic moment, some BJP workers climbed onto a fire brigade vehicle and allegedly hurled tomatoes and eggs towards the Congress protesters, who responded by throwing eggs and other objects back.
With tensions rising, the Harmu Road area and nearby localities were placed under heavy security. Large numbers of police personnel, rapid action teams and senior administrative officials were deployed to prevent further clashes and maintain law and order.
The protest also caused major traffic disruptions on Harmu Road, with long queues of vehicles forming before traffic police diverted commuters through alternative routes.
The latest confrontation comes just a day after BJP and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers staged a protest outside the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) office over alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination. BJP supporters had later marched towards the Congress office, adding to political tensions in the state.
Thursday’s protest over the NEET issue further intensified the ongoing political confrontation between the ruling alliance and the BJP in Jharkhand.
With inputs from IANS