Police Use Water Cannons and Tear Gas to disperse crowd
A Z NAWAB / Patna
A protest organised by student groups in Patna against the alleged police action on students during the recent demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar turned violent on Wednesday after police used water cannons and tear gas shells to disperse the gathering.
The demonstration, organised under the banner of the All India Students Association (AISA), was held in protest against the alleged police crackdown on students who had marched towards Parliament in New Delhi. The protesters also demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him responsible for what they described as the government’s failure to address students’ concerns.
The unrest spilled into the Bihar Legislature’s Monsoon Session on Wednesday, where the Opposition accused the state government of suppressing students and demanded accountability over the alleged use of force.
According to police and local reports, hundreds of students gathered at Patna’s Dak Bungalow crossing before attempting to march towards the Chief Minister’s official residence. Security personnel stopped the procession by erecting barricades, leading to a confrontation between protesters and police.
The situation escalated when sections of the crowd allegedly resorted to stone-pelting, injuring several police personnel. Protesters also reportedly damaged police vehicles during the violence, prompting authorities to deploy additional forces to restore order. Patna Inspector General (IG) Jitendra Rana reached the spot to supervise the security operation as clashes intensified.
Police later brought the situation under control, but the area remained under heavy security deployment amid fears of further unrest.
The protest was linked to growing student anger over alleged police action against demonstrators in recent protests and broader concerns regarding examination-related issues, including the NEET paper leak controversy and demands for greater accountability in the education system.
When some demonstrators attempted to move past the barricades, security personnel used water cannons to disperse the crowd. As tensions escalated, police also fired tear gas shells, triggering panic among the protesters. Several students were seen running for safety while others continued raising slogans against the Central Government and the Education Minister.
The protesters condemned what they termed the “brutal police action” against students in Delhi, alleging that peaceful demonstrators had been subjected to excessive force during the march towards Parliament. They demanded accountability for the police action and called for the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Student leaders accused the authorities of suppressing democratic voices instead of engaging with students’ demands. They said the protest in Patna was organised in solidarity with the students who were allegedly assaulted during the Delhi demonstrations.
Police officials maintained that action was taken only after protesters attempted to breach security barricades and ignored repeated requests to remain within the designated protest area. They said minimum force, including water cannons and tear gas, was used to restore order and prevent the situation from escalating.
Several protesters were reportedly detained during the operation, while security remained tight around the protest route and Raj Bhavan following the clashes.
Student organisations warned that protests would continue in Bihar and other parts of the country until action is taken over the alleged police excesses in Delhi and their demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is addressed.
Opposition Raises Issue in Bihar Assembly
The clashes echoed inside the Bihar Legislature on Thursday as the Monsoon Session entered its fourth day amid noisy protests by Opposition legislators.
Members of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other Opposition parties staged demonstrations in the Assembly premises, carrying banners and posters condemning the alleged lathi-charge on students and accusing the government of failing to address the concerns of the youth.
Opposition leaders alleged that the government was suppressing democratic protests instead of engaging with students’ demands. RJD legislators criticised both the state and Central governments over examination irregularities and the handling of student protests, alleging that repeated paper leak incidents had undermined the confidence of lakhs of aspirants.
Some Opposition members also questioned the Centre’s response to examination-related controversies and demanded greater accountability from the government.