Kolkata Police have arrested three more persons in connection with the violence and attacks on journalists that happened during a ‘student protest’ in the city on 24th July. According to Zee 24 journalist Piyali Mitra, the accused have been identified as Shabaz Khan (34), a resident of Bright Street, Kareya, Sk. Md. Salman Hussain (29) of Rajabagan and Md. Johiruddin Mal (32), a resident of Purba Kathalia village, P.O. Bhangore. The total number of arrests in the case has now reached 14.
Three more arrested by Kolkata Police in connection with violence and attack on journalists.
— Piyali Mitra (@Plchakraborty) July 26, 2026
The arrested persons have been identified as:
Shabaz Khan (34), a resident of Bright Street, kareya.
Sk. Md. Salman Hussain (29) of Rajabagan
Md. Johiruddin Mal (32), a resident of… https://t.co/HqUfSEOLUj pic.twitter.com/qCKD9gxlk5
According to police, the latest arrests were made on Sunday morning after investigators analysed CCTV footage and videos from the protest to identify individuals involved in the unrest. A search operation was subsequently launched to trace the accused.
The protest march, organised on Friday against alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, turned violent near Dorina Crossing in Esplanade, where clashes erupted.
Earlier, on Saturday (25th July), the Kolkata Police arrested 11 persons in connection with the violence with journalists in central Kolkata. The police said that none of the accused were students. “Total 11 accused arrested in connection with yesterday’s violence and attacks on journalists. None of them is a student. They are all trouble mongers who were present at the CJP rally yesterday and engaged in vandalism,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Kunal Aggarwal said.
The 11 arrestees included Irfan Khurshed (30), Arshad Ali alias Sajid (50), Md Moinuddin (26), Md Alamgir alias Raju (48), Imran Ahmed alias Gopi (19), Khalid Reja alias Rinku (47), Zamir Ahmed alias Minku (42), Mohsin Khan (30), and Dipak Bhowmick alias Vicky (38).
Violence broke out during the 24th July protests in central Kolkata organised by the Left student organisations, along with supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), against the recent NEET examination paper leak. The protestors blocked an important intersection of the police and hurled stones and other objects at security personnel, prompting police to respond with baton charges and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Violent protestors also attacked media personnel covering the protest, leading to a separate investigation being launched by the Kolkata Police into the incidents. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari condemned the violence during the protest and described it as a “brutal attack” on police personnel and journalists during the protests.
