Was grabbed by neck: UP student alleges assault while returning from CJP protest

A Bareilly student has alleged that he and a friend were assaulted after attending the NEET protest at Jantar Mantar. A video of the incident has sparked political demands for arrests and a fair investigation.The student claimed the group included a driver, a person recording the incident on camera and several others. (Screengrab)Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh,UPDATED: Jul 27, 2026 17:01 ISTA 16-year-old student from Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly has alleged that he and a friend were assaulted while returning from the student protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, with a video of the incident later surfacing on social media and triggering political controversy.The student claimed he was attacked after attending the agitation over irregularities in the NEET examination. Following the circulation of the video online, opposition parties demanded action against those involved.According to the student, he travelled to Delhi on July 23 with a friend to participate in the student protest. After the demonstration concluded, the two stayed overnight at a gurdwara before beginning their journey back the next morning.Speaking to reporters in Bareilly, he alleged that at around 5 am, shortly after leaving the gurdwara, he and his friend were intercepted by a group led by Satyam Pandit. "I had barely walked about 200 metres when Satyam Pandit and several others surrounded us. I had slept for only four or five hours and was heading out when they stopped us," the student mentioned.'GRABBED MY FRIEND AND STARTED BEATING'The student claimed the group included a driver, a person recording the incident on camera and several others. According to him, the attackers first assaulted his friend before turning on him."They grabbed my friend by the neck and started beating him. They tried grabbing me also. Then, they abused me continuously and questioned why we had gone to the protest," he said.The student said he looked around for help but found no other protesters nearby. He also claimed he was too frightened to approach the police immediately. His allegations regarding the police could not be independently verified.The student further alleged that the entire assault was filmed and later uploaded on social media by the accused.The video was allegedly shared by Satyam Pandit, who describes himself on social media as the national president of an organisation called the Rashtriya Hindu Veer Sena. In the post accompanying the video, he allegedly wrote that he had "treated some cockroaches", an apparent reference to the protesters.THE STUDENT IS TRAUMATISEDThe student, who is in his first-year of BSc, said the incident has left him and his family traumatised. He said they are demanding strict legal action against those responsible.The viral video has also triggered a political row. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav demanded the accused's arrest, alleging that the incident reflected the conduct of BJP supporters. Several opposition leaders and social media users have also called for a fair investigation and strict action against those involved.Police are yet to issue a detailed statement on the allegations, and the claims made by the student have not been independently verified.- EndsWith inputs from Krishna Gopal RajPublished By: Ritaban MisraPublished On: Jul 27, 2026 17:01 IST