Police in Goa questioned at least two activists who participated in a solidarity demonstration supporting the NEET paper leak protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, asking them to respond to an extensive questionnaire focused largely on jailed activist Umar Khalid. The development has triggered fresh debate over the scope of the police inquiry and the issues that surfaced during the protests.
The activists were summoned days after the July 24 demonstration in Mapusa, with the questioning following the detention of another protest participant over a placard demanding Khalid's release.
According to information accessed by The Indian Express, at least two protesters were called for questioning on separate days after the demonstration. One activist appeared before police on Sunday, while another was questioned on Monday. The inquiry stemmed from an application submitted by a local organisation, 'Citizens of Mapusa', following the protest. Police reportedly presented the activists with a questionnaire containing at least 240 questions.
A significant number of the questions focused on Umar Khalid, the former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student leader who remains in jail facing criminal conspiracy charges linked to the 2020 Delhi riots.
Among the questions posed were whether the protesters were aware of Khalid's background before attending the demonstration, whether they had raised slogans of "Free Umar Khalid," how many times those slogans were raised, whether others repeated them, and who had financed banners and placards carrying the message.
The questioning came shortly after police detained a man on July 25 for allegedly displaying a "Free Umar Khalid" placard during a gathering at Azad Maidan in Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant defended students' right to protest against the alleged NEET-UG paper leak but criticised those who introduced demands unrelated to the examination controversy.
Commenting on the issue on Wednesday, Sawant said participants had "stooped too low" by raising slogans seeking Khalid's release during the demonstrations.
He had earlier argued that bringing the issue into the student protests shifted attention away from the concerns surrounding the examination. The Chief Minister also warned that police would act against anyone attempting to spread what he described as anti-national sentiments or disrupt communal harmony.
The Goa demonstration was organised in solidarity with the nationwide agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak.
The 36-day protest concluded on July 25 after the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister, one of the principal demands raised by demonstrators.
The movement attracted students from across the country and also received support from activist Sonam Wangchuk, with protesters calling not only for accountability over the examination controversy but also for broader reforms in the education system.
North Goa Superintendent of Police Harishchandra Madkaikar confirmed that the questioning formed part of an official inquiry initiated after receiving a complaint.
He said officers continued questioning the activists until they were satisfied with the responses provided.
The investigation follows the controversy surrounding the appearance of "Free Umar Khalid" placards at demonstrations centred on the NEET paper leak, an issue that has drawn political criticism in Goa.
