Times Now reporter Dev Kotak was assaulted by a mob at Jantar Mantar in Delhi while covering a protest over NEET-UG irregularities [1, 2].

The attack highlights the increasing volatility surrounding medical entrance exam disputes in India and the physical risks faced by journalists covering civil unrest.

Kotak was attempting to interview activist Saurav Das when the crowd turned violent [1, 2]. According to reports, the journalist was slapped, kicked, and had bottles thrown at him by the protesters [1, 2]. The incident occurred during a demonstration against alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for undergraduates.

"We were slapped, kicked, and bottles were thrown at us," Kotak said [1].

Kotak had been covering the protest for 23 days [2]. The assault took place at Jantar Mantar, a historic site in Delhi frequently used for public demonstrations, and political activism.

Following the incident, a response attributed to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) was reported as "Sorry brother" [1].

The assault happened as Kotak sought to secure a direct interview with Das, an action that provoked the surrounding crowd [1, 2]. The attack marks a sharp escalation in tensions between the press and protesters at the site.

“"We were slapped, kicked, and bottles were thrown at us."”

This incident reflects the high-tension environment surrounding the NEET-UG examinations, where systemic frustrations over academic irregularities are manifesting as physical aggression toward the media. The targeting of a journalist who had been embedded in the protest for over three weeks suggests a breakdown in the rapport between demonstrators and the press, potentially leading to restricted media access at future Jantar Mantar protests.