Protests Erupt Following Prashant Kishor's Arrest in Bihar
Click to start listening
Patna, Jan 6 (NationPress): The detention of Prashant Kishor, the founder of the Jan Suraj Party, during his hunger strike at the city’s Gandhi Maidan on Monday morning has ignited widespread protests and raised concerns about the alleged excesses of the Bihar police.
Kishor has been engaged in an indefinite hunger strike, calling for the cancellation of the 70th BPSC examination due to claims of irregularities and reports of paper leaks. Aspirants and candidates for the BPSC have taken to the streets for over two weeks, demanding that the Nitish government annul the BPSC exams and conduct them afresh.
In the wake of Kishor's arrest by the Bihar police, his supporters gathered in large numbers at the Jan Suraj Party office in Sheikhpura, accusing the police of brutality.
One supporter stated, “The police lathi-charged us and even slapped Prashant Kishor. This is unjustified. The Nitish Kumar government has committed atrocities, and the movement will only escalate.”
Additionally, videos circulating on social media show police officers slapping and dragging protesters while taking Kishor into custody.
Supporters claim they have received no information regarding Kishor’s location. They allege that the police mistreated both Kishor and his supporters at the protest site.
Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh responded to the claims of police overreach by stating, “Prashant Kishor and others were staging an illegal sit-in in a restricted area at Gandhi Maidan. Despite receiving notices and repeated requests to move their protest to Gardanibagh, they refused. An FIR was filed, leading to his arrest on January 6 along with some supporters.”
“Kishor is in good health and will be presented before the court in accordance with legal procedures,” he informed reporters.
Kishor's arrest has also stirred political discussions in Bihar, with leaders from the ruling party defending the police action, while others have expressed concerns about it.
Bihar has been experiencing a wave of protests for more than two weeks regarding irregularities in the BPSC preliminary examinations. Following Kishor’s arrest, his supporters have pledged to escalate their movement, accusing the Nitish government of stifling dissent through force and vowing to continue their protests until their demands are fulfilled.
ajk/mr
