NEW DELHI: The Gujarat government has directed the state police to withdraw all criminal cases registered against students, youths and others who took part in recent protests over the alleged NEET-UG examination paper leak, officials said on Monday.With this, Gujarat has become the latest BJP-ruled state to withdraw FIRs against NEET protesters. Similar decisions have already been taken by the BJP governments in Assam, Bihar, Delhi and Maharashtra.In a July 31 letter to the state’s Director General of Police GS Malik, the Gujarat home department cited the Supreme Court’s July 28 judgment restraining police from taking coercive action against minor student protesters and directed the immediate withdrawal of all existing cases.The department instructed the police not to initiate any adverse legal or penal action against individuals who participated in the protests in the state. It further directed that if any FIRs or criminal cases had already been registered against protesters, the legal process for their withdrawal should be completed immediately.The communication, however, did not specify how many FIRs or criminal cases would be withdrawn.Protests were held in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad and several other cities in support of demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online satirical outfit that had been leading an indefinite sit-in at Jantar Mantar since June 21, called off its protest on July 25 following the resignation of then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
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Besides seeking Pradhan’s resignation, the CJP had demanded that no action be taken against its members or any NEET protesters across the country.The CJP has repeatedly warned that it would resume its agitation if the FIRs are not withdrawn.Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also clarified on Monday that the expression “criminal antecedents” in its July 28 order on releasing student protesters referred only to those involved in grave and heinous offences, and said states could close or withdraw FIRs against the remaining students in accordance with law.(With PTI inputs)
