Police in Bihar on Wednesday used tear gas shells, water cannons and a baton charge to disperse student protesters attempting to march towards Lok Bhavan in Patna. The demonstrators were demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak and other examination-related issues.
The protest was organised under the banner of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the student wing affiliated with the CPI(ML) Liberation. Hundreds of students gathered near Gandhi Maidan before beginning their march towards the Governor’s residence. However, security personnel stopped the procession several kilometres before its destination, leading to clashes between protesters and police.
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The march was led by CPI(ML) Liberation MLA and former AISA national general secretary Sandeep Sourav. Addressing the media, he alleged that the Centre had suppressed student protests and demanded the resignation of both Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the handling of demonstrations.
Police resorted to tear gas shells, water cannons and lathi-charge to disperse the crowd after the protest intensified. Authorities did not immediately confirm how many protesters had been detained during the operation.
The issue also reverberated inside the Bihar Legislative Council, where Opposition members protested against the police action. RJD MLC Sunil Kumar Singh criticised the crackdown, triggering heated exchanges between the Opposition and ruling alliance members. The protests eventually led to a walkout by Opposition legislators.
Meanwhile, protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations continued at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where demonstrators remained on a sit-in demanding reforms and accountability.
