Patna: A protest by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirants and other students turned tense in Patna on Tuesday as protesters broke through police barricades while marching towards the Chief Minister’s residence. Police used water cannons to disperse the crowd.
The students had started their march from Gandhi Maidan and moved towards the Dak Bungalow crossing, where a heavy police presence had been deployed.
Students break through barricades
At the Dak Bungalow crossing, protesters pushed through barricades and clashed with police personnel.
Police used water cannons to stop the march. Several students were also detained, while police said some protesters threw stones.
The protesters, many carrying the national flag, continued their demonstration despite the water cannons. Additional security forces, including CRPF and RAF personnel, were deployed at key locations.
What are the students demanding?
Students have been protesting in Patna’s Gardanibagh area for several weeks.
Their demands include a single-stage examination for BPSC-TRE 4.0, greater transparency in recruitment, Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) examinations and fair opportunities for Hindi-medium candidates.
The protesters have also demanded cancellation of the 70th BPSC examination, citing alleged irregularities.
Student groups have been calling for dialogue with the state government and action on several recruitment-related concerns.
Government announces student support camps
Amid the agitation, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced the launch of monthly Vidyarthi Sahyog Shivir, or student support camps, to address student grievances.
The camps will be held at educational institutions on the fourth Tuesday of every month, allowing students to raise their concerns directly with government officials.
The government also said students would be able to submit complaints online and track their progress through a portal and Helpline 1100.
Opposition backs the agitation
Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has supported the students and urged the Chief Minister to hold talks with their representatives.
Fourteen student and youth organisations have also extended support to the protest.
Yadav has additionally criticised remarks made by BPSC Examination Controller Rajesh Kumar while responding to allegations surrounding examination irregularities and paper leaks. He demanded action against the official and accused the government of failing to fix responsibility for repeated examination controversies.
Police appeal for calm
Police officials said barricades and additional forces were deployed to prevent protesters from moving towards restricted areas.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer Kamakhya Narayan Singh said talks with students were underway and that several demands had been accepted. He appealed to students to reduce the scale of the protest but said police would prevent them from moving forward if they attempted to breach the security arrangements.
The confrontation has brought renewed attention to the concerns of thousands of students seeking transparency and certainty in Bihar’s recruitment examinations.