Water cannons used as students break barricades on way to Bihar CM's residence

Bihar government job aspirants marched towards the Chief Minister's residence in Patna, breaking through police barricades and clashing with security personnel.

In Short

• Bihar protesters demand cancellation of BPSC exam over irregularities
• Police use water cannons but protesters advance, removing barricades
• Leaders seek direct talks only with CM or Education Minister to end stir

Hundreds of students and BPSC aspirants broke through police barricades and marched towards Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s residence in Patna on Tuesday, triggering clashes with police. The protesters are, among other things, demanding cancellation of the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam over alleged irregularities.

The confrontation broke out after the protesters breached barricades erected along the route to prevent them from advancing. Police personnel deployed to contain the marchers attempted to stop them, leading to a face-off between the two sides.

Police resorted to lathicharge at multiple points and used water cannons to disperse the protesters. Despite the action, the students continued their march and moved closer to the Chief Minister’s residence. Several agitators were detained as police moved to clear the protest site.

The march began around 10 am from Gandhi Maidan, with students raising slogans as they headed towards the Chief Minister’s residence. The government had deployed barricades along the route, but protesters removed them as they advanced.

The agitation is part of continuing protests by students and job aspirants in Patna’s Gardanibagh area over various demands related to competitive examinations and recruitment.

As the student protest intensified, a farmers' group protesting over land-related issues joined the agitation in Patna, carrying black flags, following which the CRPF was deployed at the protest site.

The protest came a day after student representatives held talks with the Bihar government. Although the discussions were described as positive, the protesters decided to continue their agitation and announced plans to march from Gandhi Maidan to the Chief Minister’s residence.

Student leader Saurav Kumar said the talks with the government had been "positive", but maintained that the protesters would continue their agitation over their demands, including the conduct of a single examination.

"We want to meet Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary because the government keeps making us hold talks with junior officials, after which the matter is closed. If we are given an opportunity for talks with the Chief Minister and an official notice is issued, we are ready to end our protest," a student leader said during Tuesday's protest.

He said the protesters had been asked to form a delegation for talks, but they made it clear that they would meet only the Chief Minister or, alternatively, the Education Minister.

"Our first demand is that we should be allowed to meet Samrat Choudhary. The second option is that we should be allowed to meet the Education Minister. We will not meet anyone else," he said.

Amid the protests, the Bihar government on Tuesday announced the launch of a monthly 'Vidyarthi Sahyog Shivir' (Student Support Camp) to address student grievances.

Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said the camps would be organised at educational institutions on the fourth Tuesday of every month, allowing students to directly raise their concerns with the officials concerned.

"The Bihar government is launching Vidyarthi Sahyog Shivir starting today to ensure prompt resolution of students’ grievances," Choudhary said in a social media post.

He added that students would also be able to register complaints online and track their status through a dedicated portal and helpline number 1100.

The government’s outreach initiative comes against the backdrop of sustained protests across Bihar over examination-related grievances, even as students continue to demand action on the 70th BPSC examination.

- Ends