Patna: A protest march organised by the All India Students’ Association (AISA) turned violent in Patna on Wednesday after demonstrators clashed with police while attempting to march towards Raj Bhavan.
The protest, held against alleged paper leaks, corruption, and privatisation in education, witnessed the use of tear gas shells and water cannons by police after some protesters allegedly pelted stones.
Thousands of students, youth, and workers participated in the march, which started from Gate No 10 of Gandhi Maidan and headed towards Raj Bhavan. Police stopped the procession near JP Golambar by erecting barricades.
As protesters attempted to move forward, a heated exchange broke out between demonstrators and security personnel, eventually escalating into a confrontation. The situation deteriorated when some protesters allegedly threw stones at the police.
In response, police used tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse the crowd and restore order. A heavy police deployment remained in the area to prevent further escalation.
Authorities are monitoring the situation, and law enforcement personnel continue to maintain security in the vicinity.
AISA members said the demonstration was organised to highlight what they described as the deteriorating state of public education and recurring irregularities in examination systems.
The protesters demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Bihar Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari, a fast-track probe into paper leak cases, action against alleged corruption in examination systems, withdrawal of the 7.5 CGPA eligibility criterion, rollback of fee hikes, introduction of Non-NET Fellowships for PhD scholars in Bihar universities, and protection of the autonomy of educational institutions, including Patna University.
The protesters alleged that repeated paper leaks, increasing educational costs, and privatisation have adversely affected students across the country. They also expressed concern over what they described as attempts to reduce the autonomy of higher educational institutions.
Police said adequate security arrangements were in place and that necessary measures were taken to prevent the protest from turning more violent.
The situation was later brought under control, although tension remained in the area for some time. No official statement regarding arrests or injuries had been released immediately after the incident.
Authorities are expected to review the events and take further action based on the findings.
IANS
