Assam Withdraws All Criminal Cases Against NEET-UG Protesters

The Government of Assam announced on July 28, 2026, that it will withdraw five criminal cases and release 13 detainees arrested during protests against irregularities in the NEET-UG medical entrance examination. An official order from the Home and Political Department, signed by Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Tewari, instructed authorities to expedite the release of detainees and cease all adverse legal actions, treating the matter as closed.

The agitation was led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which demanded accountability and systemic reforms in the higher education ecosystem. Arrests included individuals detained for participating in demonstrations and others in Lakhimpur arrested for creating a WhatsApp group to support the movement. Charges against the protesters ranged from criminal conspiracy to endangering national sovereignty.

This decision follows a similar amnesty granted by the Government of Bihar and comes after CJP leadership threatened to intensify protests if supporters in Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar remained imprisoned. The broader national agitation ended on July 25 following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and an agreement to introduce anti-paper leak legislation.