Hundreds of students and youth activists marching towards Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s residence in protest against the alleged police crackdown on last month’s agitation over the NEET paper leak, unemployment and other issues plaguing the student community were dispersed with water cannons in Patna on Tuesday.
Waving flags of student organisations like the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the protesters assembled at Gandhi Maidan and marched towards the Chief Minister’s residence before being stopped by police barricades near the Income Tax roundabout, around two kilometres away.
The protesters demanded the release of all students arrested during last month’s statewide agitation and withdrawal of criminal cases lodged against them.
The students marching to gherao the CM’s residence were stopped by the police at JP Golambar. While barricades were up, protesters were seen climbing over them, raising slogans and attempting to push through.
There was heavy police deployment with water cannons on standby as police officers tried to persuade the students to return. Tense scenes were witnessed as the students attempted to breach security barricades near key zones like JP Golambar and Lok Bhavan.
Visuals from the spot showed protesters raising slogans and continuing their demonstration despite the police action. The protesting students also staged agitations in other VVIP areas in Patna against the NEET-UG paper leaks and examination irregularities.
The protesters, led by the NSUI and backed by several student and youth organisations, are demanding educational reforms, job creation, and restoration of law and order and democratic rights.
Independent MP Pappu Yadav, NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar and Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram also joined the protest. Speaking during the protest, Pappu Yadav said, "The fight against those who leak papers and toy with the future of the youth will continue.”
The protest was supported by around 15 student organisations of Patna University, which had announced a “CM House Gherao” over a range of student-related demands, including action against alleged paper leaks, unemployment, compensation for a person injured during the Siwan protest and the release of students arrested during earlier demonstrations.
Later, the NSUI said its national president Vinod Jakhar was detained during the protest. In a post on X, the student organisation said Jakhar was detained during the march to the Chief Minister’s residence while protesting against the alleged AK-47 attack on students in Patna. It further said, “The voice of students will not be suppressed by oppression. The struggle will continue until justice is achieved.”
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