Did You Shout 'Free Umar Khalid' Slogans? Goa Police's 240-Point Questionnaire After Protests Over NEET Issue
Did You Shout 'Free Umar Khalid' Slogans? Goa Police's 240-Point Questionnaire After Protests Over NEET Issue Published By, Last Updated: July 30, 2026, 11:38 IST
Did You Shout 'Free Umar Khalid' Slogans? Goa Police's 240-Point Questionnaire After Protests Over NEET Issue Published By, Last Updated: July 30, 2026, 11:38 IST At least two protestors were summoned by the Goa Police. They were questioned by the police following an "application" submitted by a local group named ‘Citizens of Mapusa’ A visual from the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' march in Delhi (File photo: PTI) At least two activists, who participated in a protest in Goa’s Mapusa this month to express solidarity with the students protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar following the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, were asked by the Goa Police to fill out a questionnaire with questions such as “Did you shout the slogan ‘Free Umar Khalid’? If yes, how many times did you raise the slogan?"; What is your understanding of the words ‘Free Umar Khalid‘…?"; and “Who financed the protest?", according to The Indian Express. The protest took place on July 24. On the evening of July 25 –– when the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) announced the culmination of protests –– the Goa Police detained a man for allegedly displaying a placard that read “Free Umar Khalid" at a gathering in Panaji.
At least two protestors were summoned on Sunday and Monday respectively. They were questioned by the police following an “application" submitted by a local group named ‘Citizens of Mapusa’. Questions About Umar Khalid The duo was asked to fill out a questionnaire with at least 240 questions. Many of them were about Umar Khalid, an activist and an alumnus of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), who is currently imprisoned over charges of criminal conspiracy in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots, the Indian Express reported. The questions include: “Were you aware of the background relating to Umar Khalid before attending the protest?"; “Did you shout the slogan ‘Free Umar Khalid’? If yes, how many times did you raise the slogan?"; “Did others repeat the slogan after you?"; “Who financed or arranged the banners, placards, sound system or other material?"; “How many placards were distributed at the venue?"; “Did you post any photograph of yourself while holding the placard on social media?" ‘They Stooped Too Low’ On Wednesday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant addressed protestors carrying placards seeking the release of Khalid.
While he asserted that students had the right to protest the NEET-UG paper leak, he rebuked those who sought the release of Khalid during demonstrations. “The students had the right to protest against NEET paper leaks, [but] they stooped too low. Placards seeking the release of Umar Khalid, who has links to Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, were shown at the protest at Azad Maidan. Why was the Umar Khalid issue brought into a protest over the NEET paper leak? By taking responsibility and in the nation’s interest, Dharmendra Pradhan ji gave his resignation. We need to awaken nationalism in our students, so they do not disturb communal harmony," Sawant said. On Saturday evening, July 25, protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar ended after the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as the Union Education Minister –– a key demand put forth by protestors under the banner of the CJP. Joined by activist Sonam Wangchuk, protestors had been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar following the paper leak controversy linked to the May 3 NEET-UG examination.
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