Bihar: Patna police lathi charge civil service aspirants seeking re-exam; DM warns against student gatherings at Gandhi Maidan | Watch
PTC Web Desk: Patna witnessed a tense showdown on Sunday as thousands of Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirants gathered at Gandhi Maidan to demand the cancellation and re-examination of the 70th Preliminary Examination. Allegations of question paper leaks have sparked outrage among students, leading to sustained protests that have now lasted over a week.
The situation escalated when protesters broke through two police barricades near JP Golambar, determined to meet Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to voice their grievances. The police responded by deploying water cannons and resorting to lathicharge to disperse the crowd. Protesters attempting to march toward Dak Bungalow via Fraser Road were met with heavy security reinforcements, with additional barricades installed near Hotel Maurya to prevent their advance.
#WATCH | Bihar | BPSC aspirants continue their protest in Patna's Gandhi Maidan, demanding a re-exam to be held for the 70th BPSC prelims
Jan Suraaj Chief Prashant Kishor also present at the protest pic.twitter.com/q9qUrv6wTd — ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2024
A minor scuffle ensued between the aspirants and the police at Gandhi Maidan. Meanwhile, the aspirants, undeterred, continued their demand for a transparent examination process, citing repeated irregularities and systemic corruption in Bihar’s recruitment exams.
The protests have garnered significant support from activists, educationalists, and political leaders. Among them, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor addressed the demonstrators, calling for an end to the persistent issues plaguing Bihar’s examination system.
“Irregularities and paper leaks have unfortunately become a norm in BPSC exams. This cannot continue. We must find a long-term solution. To address these concerns, we plan to organise a 'Chatra Sansad' (Students’ Parliament) near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Gandhi Maidan,” Kishor said while addressing the crowd on Saturday.
Reacting to Kishor’s announcement, Patna District Magistrate Chandrasekhar Singh made it clear that the district administration would not permit any unauthorised gathering at Gandhi Maidan, describing it a restricted area.
“Strict action will be taken against those violating law and order. Coaching institute owners found inciting or supporting these protests will also face severe consequences. Adequate security personnel have been deployed to maintain peace in and around Gandhi Maidan,” Singh stated.
The administration’s warning, however, did little to deter the students, who are resolute in their demand for justice.
The issue
The flashpoint for the protests was the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (Preliminary), held on December 13, 2024. Aspirants alleged that the question paper was leaked, compromising the fairness of the exam. This is not the first time the BPSC has been embroiled in controversy over exam integrity, fueling widespread discontent among candidates.
The students argue that such malpractice not only undermines their efforts but also erodes trust in the state’s recruitment processes. They have demanded that the exam be scrapped and re-conducted to ensure transparency and fairness.
To contain the escalating protests, a significant number of police personnel were deployed across key locations in Patna. Gandhi Maidan, JP Golambar, and Fraser Road witnessed heightened security measures, including barricades and crowd control tactics.
- With inputs from agencies
