PATNA: A statewide Bihar bandh called over the alleged NEET paper leak turned violent on Saturday, with protesters clashing with police in Patna and vandalising police vehicles. Several people were reported injured as security forces moved in to disperse the crowd.The bandh was called to protest the alleged NEET paper leak and the recent police action against students during demonstrations in Bihar. Protesters are also demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) National President Tej Pratap Yadav was among those detained during the protests. Authorities deployed heavy security across sensitive districts, with additional police personnel stationed at key locations, including Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Flag marches were also conducted in vulnerable areas as a precaution.Security was tightened in Patna, Siwan, Jehanabad, Sheikhpura and Rohtas, while private schools in Patna remained closed. Despite the shutdown call, officials said normal life in many parts of the state capital was largely unaffected.Left-wing student organisations, including the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA), staged demonstrations in several districts. In Samastipur, protesters blocked the Samastipur-Patna road by burning tyres and raising slogans against the government. They also reiterated their demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak.In Siwan, AISA, RYA and other left-wing groups held demonstrations at JP Chowk, accusing the government of suppressing student protests.Former MLA and CPI(ML) leader Amarjeet Kushwaha alleged that students protesting in both Delhi and Patna had faced excessive police action.“Protest has been underway at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for the last 26 days. Students also came out on the streets of Patna on Wednesday. However, both in Delhi and in Patna, they faced brutal police action. Even women and girls were not spared,” he said.AISA’s Bihar state president, Dhananjay, also criticised the government’s response, alleging that students were being targeted for demanding the Union education minister’s resignation.“We were on the streets demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. This government is trying to put all of us in jail. The kind of arrests and treatment being meted out to the youth and students of Bihar is unacceptable,” he said.Meanwhile, CPI(ML) MLA Sandeep Saurav, who was arrested following violence during NEET-related protests in Patna earlier this week, said the agitation would continue until the Union education minister steps down.“We have to fight and win, and we will take Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Until then, the youth of the entire country will continue to raise their voice,” Saurav said.The bandh comes days after violent clashes and stone-pelting during NEET-linked protests in Patna, with political tensions continuing to escalate over the alleged paper leak and the police crackdown on student demonstrators.
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