NEET protest turns violent in Bihar: Police injured, Tej Pratap Yadav detained

Saran, Bihar: Violent clashes broke out across parts of Bihar on Saturday during protests over the NEET examination issue, leaving police personnel injured and prompting security forces to use tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The unrest came as thousands of students participated in a statewide 'Bihar Bandh' demanding reforms in the examination system and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

In Chapra's Saran district, protesters allegedly pelted stones at police personnel, prompting senior officials, including District Magistrate Vaibhav Srivastava and Senior Superintendent of Police Vineet Kumar, to rush to the scene with additional forces. Police later dispersed the crowd and restored order, though officials said tension continued to prevail in the area.

In Patna, Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) National President Tej Pratap Yadav joined students protesting at Gandhi Maidan before being detained by police during the demonstration.

Backing the protesters, Yadav said, "The children's demands are legitimate. The government must fulfil their demands, and we stand firmly with them. I am ready to lay down my life for the students and youth."

The protest in Patna also turned violent after demonstrators allegedly vandalised a traffic police booth and clashed with security personnel. Police fired tear gas shells after incidents of stone-pelting, while visuals from the protest showed damaged police vehicles and officers dragging away demonstrators.

In Aurangabad district, two police personnel were injured during the protests.

The demonstrations were organised following a statewide 'Bihar Bandh' call over the alleged NEET paper leak, with protesters demanding accountability, reforms in the examination system and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Security was tightened across Bihar, with heavy deployment of police personnel at sensitive locations, including Gandhi Maidan in Patna, to prevent further violence.

Members of the All India Students' Association (AISA) also blocked the Samastipur–Patna main road as part of the shutdown, reiterating their demand for Pradhan's resignation.

A day earlier, CPI(ML) MLA Sandeep Saurav, who was arrested in connection with violence during the Patna protest, vowed to continue the agitation.

"We have to fight and win, and we will take Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Until then, the youth of the entire country will not stop raising their voice. This fight should continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns and the children who committed suicide in the NEET paper leak do not get justice," Saurav said.

AISA Bihar State President Dhananjay also criticised the police action against protesters.

"We were on the streets demanding the resignation of one man, Dharmendra Pradhan... This government is trying to put all of us in jail... The kind of arrests you have made, the kind of inhumanity you are subjecting the youth and students of Bihar to, will be completely intolerable," he said.