Mumbai Police Deploy Digital Tracking and Home Visits to Curb Student Protests Over NEET Paper Leak Case

Student protests over the NEET paper leak case continue from Delhi to Mumbai as Mumbai Police intensify preventive action through digital tracking, WhatsApp live location monitoring, legal notices under BNSS Section 35(3), and door-to-door verification, triggering concerns over privacy, civil liberties, and constitutional rights.

Student protests against the government over the NEET paper leak case continue to spread across different parts of the country, from the national capital Delhi to Mumbai. Amid the ongoing demonstrations in Mumbai, the Mumbai Police have adopted a new strategy involving digital tracking and door-to-door verification in an effort to prevent further student protests and public gatherings.

Following continuous demonstrations in key locations, including Shivaji Park, Chembur, and Azad Maidan, the police administration has intensified preventive measures. Authorities have directed identified protesters to remain at their residences, share their live WhatsApp location, and comply with digital legal notices issued under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Police officials are directly contacting protesters who already have First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against them through phone calls and text messages. To verify that they remain at home, the Mumbai Police have instructed them to continuously share their live location via WhatsApp.

In addition, legal notices are being served through WhatsApp and other messaging applications under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). These notices instruct the recipients to appear before the police station for questioning regarding their participation in previous protest marches and demonstrations.

Alongside digital monitoring, police teams are conducting door-to-door visits in Mumbai's suburban areas and nearby municipal corporation jurisdictions. During these visits, officers are informing families about pending investigations involving the protesters and advising them not to participate in future public rallies.

Police teams stationed near major metro and railway stations have also been identifying individuals heading toward key protest venues and diverting them away from the assembly points. Records and details of individuals who were previously detained have been circulated among police stations to enable their quick identification during roadside inspections.

Explaining the purpose of these measures, a senior police officer said the objective is to prevent young citizens from acquiring formal criminal records, as such records could negatively affect passport processing, admission to higher educational institutions, and future employment opportunities.

However, defence lawyers and legal aid groups assisting the protesters have challenged the approach adopted by the authorities. They argue that electronic location tracking, examination of messaging groups, and door-to-door questioning extend well beyond standard preventive policing protocols and raise serious legal concerns regarding individual privacy and the constitutionally protected freedom of movement.

The measures adopted by the Mumbai Police have intensified the debate over the balance between maintaining public order and safeguarding fundamental civil liberties. As student protests over the NEET paper leak case continue, the administration's digital surveillance and preventive enforcement strategy is likely to remain under close legal and public scrutiny.