Leader of Opposition in Bihar Tejashwi Yadav has warned the state government of renewed protests if students, opposition leaders and other demonstrators arrested during the July 25 Bihar Bandh are not released within 24 hours.
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Tejashwi criticised the Bihar Police for the large-scale arrests made during the bandh, which was organised by the All India Students’ Association over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. He demanded the immediate release of all detained protesters, including his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav, and called for action against police personnel accused of opening fire on demonstrators in Siwan on July 25 and Jehanabad on July 23.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The Bihar Bandh witnessed clashes between protesters and police at several locations, leading to arrests and incidents of violence. Student organisations have also alleged that minors were among those taken into custody and have announced a statewide Virodh Diwas on July 30 to protest the police action.
Tej Pratap Yadav, who recently floated his own political outfit after parting ways with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), was arrested in Patna on charges of obstructing government officials from performing their duties. A local court later remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody in Beur Jail.
Tejashwi also visited injured protesters in Patna and accused the state government of using excessive force against students and opposition workers participating in the demonstrations. He maintained that democratic protests should not be met with harsh police action and warned that the opposition would intensify its agitation if the government failed to respond to their demands.
The developments come amid heightened political tensions in Bihar following the Bihar Bandh, with opposition parties alleging police excesses while the state government has defended its actions, saying law enforcement intervened to maintain public order after protests turned violent in several districts.
