A statewide Bihar Bandh called by student organisations on Saturday, 25 July over the NEET paper leak and related grievances triggered clashes and stone-pelting at several locations across the state, with police detaining multiple protesters and deploying riot-control units at sensitive points in Patna and beyond.

Clashes and Detentions in Patna

Student activists converged at Dakbungla Crossing in Patna from early morning, raising slogans against the government. According to police, some demonstrators allegedly arrived carrying stones and resorted to stone-pelting, prompting security personnel to use mild force to disperse the crowd, resulting in brief chaos at the site.

Sub-Inspector Pramod Kumar sustained a head injury after being struck during a stone-pelting incident in Bakarganj, Patna. Several students who gathered at JP Golambar to participate in the shutdown were also detained for questioning.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya K. Sharma confirmed that multiple individuals had been detained. He stated that police are actively investigating those involved and probing how stones were brought to the protest site. He added that attempts to breach police barricades were dealt with immediately and the situation remained under control.

Security Deployment Across the Capital

Authorities maintained intensive patrolling throughout the day at key locations including Dakbungla Crossing, JP Golambar, Kargil Chowk, Kotwali, Income Tax Crossing, Veerchand Patel Path, the High Court area, Ashok Rajpath, Rajvanshi Nagar Mor, Ashiana, and the vicinity of the Chief Minister's residence. Riot-control vehicles and reserve police units were positioned at strategic points, while heavy contingents were stationed at major intersections, educational institutions, and other sensitive areas. Security was significantly reinforced around Patna University, with additional personnel deployed at main gates, hostels, and surrounding zones.

Political Support for the Bandh

Tej Pratap Yadav, National President of the Janshakti Janata Dal, briefly joined protesters at Ram Ghulam Chowk in Patna to express solidarity with the shutdown called by Left-backed student organisations, before leaving the venue. His appearance underscored the political dimensions of what began as a student-led agitation.

Protests Spread Beyond Patna

The bandh's impact extended well beyond the capital. Student demonstrations were reported in Siwan, Chhapra, and Gaya, where protesters demanded accountability over examination paper leaks and called for the resignation of the Union Education Minister.

Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha said the law-and-order situation in the district remained completely under control, with sufficient police personnel deployed, reserve forces on standby, and continuous patrolling under way to ensure peace.

Background: The NEET Paper Leak Controversy

The Bihar Bandh is the latest flashpoint in a widening national controversy over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 examination, which has drawn protests from student groups across multiple states. Critics argue that systemic failures in examination administration have undermined the prospects of lakhs of aspirants. This comes amid mounting pressure on the Centre to overhaul examination oversight mechanisms and ensure accountability at the highest levels.

With detentions made and investigations under way, all eyes are now on whether authorities will take substantive action on the NEET leak demands — or whether further protests are imminent.