Student protests turn violent in Darbhanga, Begusarai; police resort to lathi-charge, tear gassing

Patna, July 23 (IANS) Student protests demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over NEET paper leaks turned violent in parts of Bihar on Thursday, leading to clashes with police in Darbhanga and Begusarai.

While protesters claimed excessive police action, authorities alleged that force was used only after sections of the crowd turned aggressive and attempted to breach security arrangements.

The most serious confrontation took place at Lohia Chowk under Laheriasarai Police Station in Darbhanga, where a protest escalated into violence after a section of the demonstrators allegedly began pelting stones at police personnel.

City Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashok Kumar sustained an injury near his foot during the stone-pelting, resulting in bleeding. A police Constable was also injured in the incident.

According to an official, nearly 2,000 students had assembled at Karpoori Chowk without prior permission before marching towards Collectorate Road to demand the resignation of the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

As the demonstration progressed, some individuals within the crowd allegedly started throwing stones at the police, creating panic and disrupting law and order.

To disperse the crowd, police first conducted a lathi-charge. When the protesters continued to resist, riot control personnel fired seven rounds of tear gas shells to restore order.

Even two hours after the incident, tension continued to prevail in the Laheriasarai area.

District Magistrate Kaushal Kumar and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jagunath Reddy Jalareddy, along with other senior officials, rushed to the spot and supervised security operations.

Additional police personnel from multiple police stations and riot control units were deployed to prevent any further escalation.

Police officials said CCTV footage and videos recorded during the protest are being examined to identify those allegedly involved in the stone-pelting.

A heavy police presence remains in the area, and authorities said the situation is under close surveillance.

A similar confrontation unfolded in Begusarai, where students organised a protest march demanding, among other issues, the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

As the protesters moved towards the District Collectorate, the administration had already erected barricades and deployed a large contingent of police personnel, special forces, and riot control units to prevent unauthorised entry into the premises.

According to the police, repeated attempts were made to persuade the demonstrators to remain peaceful.

However, when a section of the crowd allegedly tried to break through the barricades and advance towards the Collectorate, police used force to disperse them.

During the operation, more than half a dozen people were detained for questioning.

Although the protesters briefly retreated after the police action, they regrouped shortly afterward and resumed sloganeering near the protest site, keeping the atmosphere tense.

Superintendent of Police Manish personally reached the spot to oversee security arrangements, following which additional police forces were deployed, and surveillance across the area was intensified.

Amid the tension in Begusarai, a five-member delegation representing the protesters met the District Magistrate and submitted a memorandum outlining their demands.

Despite the meeting, a large number of students remained gathered near the Collectorate, prompting authorities to continue security deployment.

SP Manish said the police had prevented protesters from entering the Collectorate to maintain law and order.

According to him, while officers initially attempted to resolve the situation through dialogue, some individuals allegedly tried to disturb public peace, compelling the police to take necessary action. He added that those involved in the disturbance were being identified through video footage and that appropriate legal action would be taken.

The SP also said the Collectorate premises remained fully secure, continuous patrolling was underway, and the administration had appealed to the public to maintain peace and avoid paying attention to rumours.

–IANS

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