Supporters of independent Member of Parliament, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, staged a rail blockade at Sachiwalay Halt Railway Station on Friday, demanding the cancellation of the recent Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination.
The protesters gathered at the station and sat on the tracks briefly, leading to a temporary delay in train services.
"Protesters stopped the Buxar-Fatuha passenger train at Sachivalaya Halt Station around 9 am. The train was halted for 20 minutes before resuming its journey," said Sarswati Chandra, Chief Public Relations Officer, East Central Railway.
Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor, founder of Jan Suraaj, has been on a hunger strike since Thursday, pressing for the cancellation of the 70th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) conducted by BPSC on December 13.
Kishor’s protest site was located just a few kilometres from the ongoing sit-in by civil service aspirants at Gardani Bagh, which has lasted for nearly two weeks.
The administration has deemed Kishor's protest at Gandhi Maidan "illegal" as the area is not designated for such demonstrations, an official stated.
On Thursday, the district police filed an FIR against Kishor and other protestors for holding the fast at the restricted site.
“My primary demand, of course, is the cancellation of the exam held on December 13 and conducting a fresh test. I have also heard of allegations that posts to be filled by the exam were virtually put on sale. Such corrupt officials must be identified and brought to justice,” Kishor told mediapersons on Thursday, surrounded by his supporters.
Also read: Prashant Kishor starts fast-unto-death, demands BPSC exam cancellation
The CPI(ML) Liberation has also joined the protests, with its students' wing AISA and other like-minded groups planning a demonstration in front of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence to press him to take a stance on the issue.
More than five lakh candidates had appeared for the exam held on December 13. Allegations of a question paper leak led hundreds of candidates at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar centre to boycott the test.
The BPSC has dismissed these claims as a conspiracy but has ordered a fresh test for more than 10,000 candidates who had appeared at the centre.
These candidates are now required to appear at 22 newly designated centres across Patna on January 4.
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