The Bihar Bandh organised by students in the state turned violent as police deployed at the protest site resorted to another lathi charge at the Dakbungalow Square in the VIP area in Patna. Police also used tear gas and were on standby with water cannons to disperse the crowd.
The state government has deployed around 70,000 police officials in the vulnerable districts.
The protest against the NEET paper leak was organised by student organisations and political parties. They demanded a fair investigation into the rigging in the NEET examination and strict action for the accused. The demonstrators blocked roads in Samastipur and Siwan. Traffic was disrupted near the Thakur Prasad (TP) College, Madhepura, in the morning.
The students had planned to march and surround the collectorate and submit a memorandum to the district magistrate. Police used barricades to prevent them from the entering the premises. The protesting students attempted to break through the barricade, which resulted in a clash.
Some reports say there were incidents of arson.
The demonstrators reportedly clashed in Patna, Chhapra, Siwan, Gaya, Ara, Samastipur, Sharsa and Nawada.
In several regions, people also threw stones at the policemen, severely injuring them.
In Siwan, police allegedly opened fire at the crowd and used tear gas to disperse them.
A large number of protesters and activists also gathered around the CJP Golambar and Ramgulam Chok at Gandhi Maidan en route. Since morning, about 17 protesters have been detained from the area. They were taken to the Sadar police station.
Tej Pratap Yadav, president of the Janshakti Janata Dal and the elder son of RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, also supported the Bihar bandh and was reportedly detained during the demonstrations.
In Thana Chowk in Chapra, the situation escalated when a clash broke out between protestors and the police.
Additional police forces were deployed in the region.
Security was also tightened around Patna University campus. SSB personnel have cordoned off the area.
Apart from the Bihar Police, the SSB and 14 other companies of paramilitary forces were deployed to the city.
Police are patrolling areas around Dakbungalow Square, JP Golambar, Kargil Chowk, Kotwali T-Point, Income Tax Square, Veerchand Patel Path, the High Court, Ashoka Rajpath, Rajvanshi Nagar Mor, Aashiyana, and the Chief Minister's residence. Vajra vehicles, riot control units, and additional police forces have also been deployed at strategic locations.
In Siwan, protestors reportedly vandalised several locations.
In Jehanabad, police opened at least 30 rounds to disperse protesters after they allegedly attacked the District Magistrate's residence and pelted stones.
The protests were also supported by multiple opposition parties like the RJD, VIP, CPI (ML) and CPI (M).
