BPSC aspirants' protest over paper leak turns violent as clashes erupt between students and police

Prashant Kishor, the former electoral strategist-turned-politician, along with leaders of his Jan Suraaj party, several coaching center owners, and 700 unidentified protesters, are facing charges in Bihar following the large-scale aspirant protests on Dec 29.

They are accused of bringing people together "unauthorized," provoking them, and causing a problem for law and order.

The police claimed that the Jan Suraaj Party had also organized an unapproved protest march and led the crowds that descended into violence in Patna's Gandhi Maidan, smashing police loudspeakers and causing conflicts with on-duty police officials.

"Despite repeated requests by the administration, these people violated the guidelines of the administration and disrupted public order," the police said.

Following claims of a paper leak, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) candidates staged a large protest on Dec 29, seeking a retest of the 70th Combined Competitive Examination. The police broke up the protest with batons and water cannons.

Before marching towards JP Golambar, the students had assembled at Gandhi Maidan with the goal of reaching Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's home. They wanted a discussion with him about the matter.

Prashant Kishor had said that he was fully in favor of the students. He took part in their march to JP Golambar and announced that a delegation of students would meet with the Chief Secretary.

“Officials confirmed their willingness to engage in discussions. If no substantial decisions are made, students will resume protests on Monday,” he said, urging the demonstrators to pause their agitation temporarily.

To address the concerns of the students and plan future steps, Kishor had already called for a "Chhatra Sansad" in Gandhi Maidan on Dec 28. However, the city administration denied clearance for the event.

Later in the evening, following Kishor's absence during the lathicharge by Bihar Police, protesting aspirants asked political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor to leave the protest venue at Patna's Gardanibagh.

Kishor encountered slogans of "Prashant Kishor, go back" when he first arrived, which sparked heated discussions with student leaders.

Things became more heated when Kishor said, "You take blankets from us and then show us attitude."

The protestors, who were already incensed at the police lathi charge against their peers and Kishor's absence during the incident, were further outraged by this statement and questioned him, "Where was Prashant Kishor during lathicharge?"

Earlier, on allegations of provocation, spreading rumors, and causing difficulty for law and order, the Patna police filed separate First Information Reports (FIRs) against unnamed individuals at the Sachivalaya and Gardanibagh police stations against BPSC agitators, teachers, coaching facility owners, and social media handlers.

Since Dec 20, a number of candidates have been fasting to death at Gardanibagh, calling for a reexamination of the Dec 13, 70th Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination.

Anu Kumari, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) for Sachivalaya, said on Dec 26 that the majority of the agitators are not candidates.

Social media users shared videos of the police action against applicants, some of which showed officers chasing and assaulting protesters, including women.

Hours after the BPSC candidates were lathicharged, Manoj Bharti, the president of the Jan Suraaj Party, met with them at the protest location to offer his party's support for the reexamination of the preliminary exam, which was the primary demand of the agitated candidates.

If the Dec 13 exam is not cancelled, Purnea Member of Parliament (MP) Pappu Yadav threatened to call for a Bihar bandh on Jan 1.

At the Bapu examination center in Patna, candidates claimed that there was a paper leak and other irregularities, such as disruptions brought on by the test's delayed start time.

The Bapu Centre exam was cancelled by BPSC, while tests conducted at all other Bihar centres would remain unaffected.

According to BPSC officials, a new exam would only be given to applicants from the Bapu center.

It is anticipated that Jan Suraaj, a group that rebranded itself as a political party in October of this year, will run in every seat in Bihar in the upcoming assembly election.

The group was converted by the former political strategist after two years of yatra and considerable travel throughout the state.

The party would change electoral politics from focusing on sops to topics that should be on the election agenda, Kishor claimed.