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Mumbai's anti-NEET protests entered their 4th day with turnout dropping sharply after a police crackdown & prohibitory orders. Over 150 protesters were detained & 55 booked during demonstrations linked to a statewide bandh. While political parties attempted to sustain the movement, many students stayed away fearing legal action, even as parents & young professionals continued to show support.

Mumbai: Mumbai’s anti-NEET paper leak demonstrations entered their fourth consecutive day on Thursday, echoing the larger, ongoing agitation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. However, despite political outfits stepping in to pump momentum into the movement, turnout among young student protesters saw a sharp dip across the city following a crackdown by law enforcement. ​Over 150 demonstrators were detained across multiple transit and civic hubs, with 47 booked under two separate cases linked to a state-wide bandh call.

​The visual contrast between Wednesday and Thursday was stark. A day after a crowd of over 3,000 – backed by prominent actors and musicians – assembled at Dadar’s iconic Shivaji Park, Thursday saw a sparse gathering of just over 1,000 demonstrators.

​The sharp drop stems largely from a growing fear of legal repercussions. On Tuesday, the Mumbai Police issued prohibitory orders under Section 37 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951, slated for enforcement starting Thursday.

​"There was a sense of fear that if we were being detained even before these rules took effect, what would happen once they were enforced?" said a college student who had attended the prior three days of demonstrations, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We are waiting to see how the police react today before deciding when to resume."