Youth Congress members burning an effigy of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during a protest in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
\| Photo Credit: special arrangement

The Bengaluru police on Wednesday detained several Congress workers after they gathered outside the BJP’s State headquarters in Malleswaram and attempted to stage a protest in violation of restrictions imposed under High Court directions.

BJP leaders led by Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok staged a counter-protest in front of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office on Queen’s Road. The police also detained Mr. Ashok and other BJP workers, stating that the demonstration violated the same High Court restrictions on public protests. They were taken to the High Grounds police Station and were later released.

Slogans against PM

At the Congress protest, the party workers held placards, raised slogans and allegedly attempted to lay siege to the BJP office. They were protesting against the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) irregularities, the police lathi-charge on protesters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, and the detention of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders. Youth Congress members burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak.

The police intervened and took the demonstrators into preventive detention, citing High Court orders that permit public protests only at the designated protest venue, Freedom Park. Security was tightened in and around the BJP headquarters, with barricades erected to prevent any breach of law and order.

BJP alleges attack

BJP leader R. Ashok and others walking towards the KPCC office to stage a protest against the Congress government in Bengaluru on July 22, 2026.
\| Photo Credit:
special arrangement

After holding a protest in front of the KPCC office, Mr. Ashok submitted a petition to the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner alleging that Congress workers attacked BJP leaders. He claimed that eggs, iron rods and clubs were used in the assault and alleged that even the police bus carrying detained BJP workers to the police station was targeted. Miscreants threw eggs on BJP MLA B.P. Harish, the BJP said.

In his complaint, Mr. Ashok sought a detailed investigation into the incident and demanded strict action against those responsible. The situation remained under control following the preventive detentions, with heavy police deployment continuing in the area.

Published - July 22, 2026 11:30 pm IST