It began with slogans. It ended with tear gas, hospital visits and a promise of strict legal action.

As the simmering outrage over the alleged NEET paper leak spilled onto the streets of central Kolkata on Friday, a protest led by Left student organisations snowballed into violent clashes with police, forcing security personnel to resort to a baton charge and tear gas shells.

Hours later, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari condemned what he described as a 'brutal attack' on police personnel and journalists, directing Kolkata Police to identify those responsible and initiate strict legal action.

The confrontation unfolded at Dorina Crossing near Esplanade, where protesters blocked traffic, hurled footwear and water bottles at police personnel and refused to vacate the intersection despite repeated appeals.

The disruption brought one of the city's busiest junctions to a standstill on a working day, while police struggled for hours to restore normalcy.

According to police, a section of demonstrators identifying themselves as supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) joined the Left-led protest after they were denied permission to organise a separate rally.

The CJP had initially planned a march from College Square to Esplanade but later merged with the Left procession at Dharmatala.

A large contingent of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Kolkata Police combat units and central paramilitary personnel was deployed to prevent the situation from spiralling further.

The protesters demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak.

They also sought the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the medical entrance examination, and justice for students who they alleged were subjected to police action during demonstrations in Delhi.

Earlier in the day, Left student organisations had marched from Sealdah to Esplanade in solidarity with the nationwide movement against the alleged irregularities in NEET.

Carrying placards and raising slogans, demonstrators reiterated demands for examination reforms and greater accountability.

Friday's mobilisation also marked the first public participation of the CJP in Kolkata.

The group's member, Dedipya Ganguly, had earlier sought police permission for a separate rally 'in solidarity with Shri Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike'. After receiving no response from Kolkata Police, the organisation decided on Thursday night to join the Left-led protest instead.

The latest demonstration comes just days after students of Jadavpur University organised another protest march attended by hundreds of students and parents.

That rally had similarly demanded examination reforms, greater accountability and Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, while expressing solidarity with the CJP's Parliament march in Delhi.

CM visits injured, orders crackdown

Following the violence, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited SSKM Hospital to meet journalists who were injured during the clashes.

Condemning the attack on both police personnel and media persons, he said the injured would receive the best possible treatment and directed the Kolkata Police Commissioner to identify those involved and initiate strict legal action against them.

Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee also visited the injured journalists at the hospital, describing the assault on media personnel as 'brutal' and calling for swift action against those responsible.

Meanwhile, Additional Commissioner of Police DP Singh said police were in constant touch with protest leaders to ensure the demonstration remained peaceful.

He noted that the protesters had permission to march only up to Dharmatala and said adequate police deployment had been made at Dorina Crossing to manage the situation, one of Kolkata's busiest intersections.