Statewide Shutdown Over NEET Paper Leak, Education Minister's Resignation and Lathi Charge; Police Resort to Baton Charge After Stone Pelting in Several Districts
Patna: A statewide shutdown (Bihar Bandh) called by student organizations on Saturday over the alleged NEET paper leak, the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and the police baton charge on student protesters had a widespread impact across Bihar. Thousands of students took to the streets in Patna and several other districts to express their anger against the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. The protests turned violent in many places, leading to clashes between demonstrators and the police. Incidents of stone pelting were reported from Patna, Chhapra, Lakhisarai, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, and several other districts, following which the police carried out baton charges to disperse the crowds.
From early morning, members of various student organizations gathered at major intersections, railway stations, and national and state highways across Bihar. Holding banners and placards, they demanded a fair and transparent investigation into the alleged paper leak, strict action against those responsible, and comprehensive reforms in the country's examination system. Protesters argued that the controversy had jeopardized the future of millions of students who had worked hard to prepare for the highly competitive medical entrance examination.
In the state capital, Patna, demonstrations began at several key locations, including Dak Bungalow Square, Gandhi Maidan, Ashok Rajpath, and other prominent areas. The protests disrupted traffic for several hours, causing inconvenience to office commuters, students, and the general public. Long traffic jams were reported across the city, prompting authorities to deploy additional police personnel to restore normal movement.
Similar scenes were witnessed in Chhapra, where students blocked roads and raised slogans against the government. According to eyewitnesses, tensions escalated after an argument between protesters and police personnel, eventually leading to incidents of stone pelting. The police responded with a baton charge to bring the situation under control. In Lakhisarai, authorities also resorted to the use of force after demonstrations turned aggressive. Reports from several districts indicated that both protesters and police personnel sustained injuries during the clashes.
The Bihar Bandh also affected public transportation. Bus services were disrupted in several areas, while protesters stopped vehicles and appealed to commuters to support the shutdown. Security was tightened around railway stations to prevent any untoward incidents. District administrations had already deployed additional police forces and magistrates in sensitive locations in anticipation of possible unrest.
Student organizations maintained that the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination had severely damaged the trust of young aspirants in the country's examination system. They argued that if proper security measures had been in place, such controversies could have been avoided. The protesters also demanded that the entire matter be investigated by an independent agency and that those found guilty be punished through a time-bound legal process.
The Bihar Bandh also drew political reactions from various parties. Opposition leaders expressed support for the students' demands and emphasized the need for reforms to ensure fairness and transparency in competitive examinations. Leaders from the ruling side appealed for peace and urged protesters to avoid violence. The administration reiterated that peaceful protest is a democratic right but warned that damage to public property and violations of law and order would not be tolerated.
The Bihar Police strengthened security arrangements across the state by deploying additional personnel, rapid response teams, and riot control units in sensitive districts. Senior officials continuously monitored the situation and directed local administrations to remain on high alert. Authorities also intensified surveillance on social media platforms to prevent the spread of rumors and misinformation.
Several student leaders stated that the movement was not politically motivated but aimed solely at protecting the future of millions of students. They stressed that public confidence in the examination system could only be restored through transparency, accountability, and meaningful reforms. They also warned that if their demands were ignored, the protests would be intensified in the coming days.
Education experts observed that maintaining the credibility of competitive examinations is essential for a fair and democratic system. They recommended strengthening question paper security, improving digital surveillance, enhancing cybersecurity measures, and ensuring greater accountability at examination centers to prevent similar controversies in the future.
Commercial activities were also affected by the shutdown. Many markets remained partially closed, while several businesses opened later than usual due to security concerns. Citizens appealed to the administration to restore normalcy at the earliest to minimize disruption to daily life.
For now, the state administration continues to closely monitor the situation across Bihar. Based on reports from different districts, police and district officials remain engaged in maintaining law and order. Student organizations have indicated that if their primary demands are not addressed with concrete action, the movement could be expanded further in the coming days.
Note: This news article is based on the information provided in the prompt. If it is intended for publication as factual news, the reported events, the minister's resignation, police action, and official statements should be independently verified through authoritative sources before publication.
