Patna: Tension gripped Siwan on Saturday as a student‑led protest during the Bihar Bandh escalated into clashes between demonstrators and police, leading to a lathi‑charge, stone‑pelting, and conflicting claims over the use of force.
According to reports, a large number of students gathered in the city and marched towards Gandhi Maidan as part of the statewide shutdown. Police personnel had already been deployed in the area in anticipation of the protest.
While students were raising slogans, the situation deteriorated after an altercation broke out between protesters and the police. Police reportedly used mild force to disperse the crowd.
Officials stated that the lathi‑charge followed after stones were allegedly thrown from within the group of protesters, injuring several police personnel. As the confrontation intensified, stone‑pelting increased, creating panic in the area.
The unrest also affected normal business activity, with shops along the protest route shutting down as tensions escalated.
During the chaos, some residents alleged that police had opened fire. An injured youth claimed he had sustained a bullet injury. However, the information regarding the alleged firing and the circumstances surrounding the injury has not been independently verified, and authorities had not officially confirmed the claim at the time of reporting.
Reacting to the incident, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) National Working President Tejashwi Yadav shared a video on the social media platform X, alleging that police had fired directly at students during the protest. He also claimed that AK‑47 rifles were used during the action and demanded strict action against the officials concerned.
Meanwhile, the district administration appealed to the public to maintain peace and refrain from spreading rumours or misinformation. Officials stated that they were closely monitoring misleading content circulating on social media and confirmed that one individual had been arrested in connection with an allegedly objectionable social media post.
The protests in Siwan were part of the statewide Bihar Bandh called by student organisations over issues including alleged examination paper leaks and demands related to education reforms.
Although Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation added a new dimension to the political developments, demonstrations continued in several parts of Bihar, with some locations witnessing violent confrontations between protesters and law enforcement.
(IANS)
