Bihar Bandh over NEET row turns violent: Clashes in Patna, Chapra; Tej Pratap Yadav detained

Police fired tear gas in Patna, protesters allegedly threw stones at officers in Chapra and two policemen were injured in Aurangabad as Bihar Bandh demonstrations over the NEET examination row turned violent in several districts on Saturday.

JJD national president Tej Pratap Yadav was detained after joining protesting students at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Police also reported vandalism in the state capital, while road blockades and protest marches disrupted movement elsewhere.

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The demonstrators are seeking reforms in the examination system and action over alleged irregularities. They have also demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Police fire tear gas after Patna protest turns violent

A traffic police booth was vandalised during the protest in Patna. Police vehicles were also damaged and toppled, according to reports from the demonstration.

Stone-pelting was reported during a clash between protesters and police. Officers fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.

Security had been tightened at Gandhi Maidan and other sensitive locations before the statewide shutdown. Police also conducted flag marches in Patna.

Stone-pelting alleged during Chapra protest

Tension gripped Chapra in Saran district after officials said demonstrators threw stones at police personnel.

Saran District Magistrate Vaibhava Srivastava and Senior Superintendent of Police Vineet Kumar reached the area with additional personnel.

Police dispersed the demonstrators and said the law-and-order situation had been brought under control. Tension, however, persisted in the area.

Two policemen were separately reported injured during protests in Aurangabad.

Tej Pratap Yadav detained at Gandhi Maidan

Tej Pratap Yadav joined students protesting at Gandhi Maidan before police detained him.

“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,” Yadav told reporters during his detention.

The demonstrations continued across the state, with protesters raising slogans against the handling of alleged examination irregularities.

Siwan standoff resolved after talks

Siwan briefly witnessed tension after protesters attempted to block roads and persuade shopkeepers to close their businesses.

Police intervened and asked demonstrators not to obstruct roads used by commuters and emergency services. The intervention led to an argument, with protesters accusing the administration of disrupting a peaceful demonstration.

Additional personnel were deployed as the situation grew tense. Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha then held talks with the demonstrators and persuaded them to proceed along a designated route.

The crowd later dispersed peacefully.

Several private school buses remained off the roads as a precaution. Some businesses also delayed opening. Police patrols continued around intersections, the railway station, the bus stand and other sensitive locations.

Road blocked in Samastipur, students detained in Madhepura

Members of the All India Students’ Association blocked the Samastipur-Patna main road as part of the shutdown.

In Gaya, supporters of AISA and the Revolutionary Youth Association held marches over the alleged paper leak and the condition of the education system. Some markets were partially affected, while essential services continued to operate.

Police detained several students in Madhepura. Officials described the detentions as a precaution intended to preserve public order.

Flag marches were also conducted in Jehanabad, while security personnel remained stationed at key locations across the state.

Authorities said peaceful demonstrations would be permitted but warned that violence, vandalism and attempts to obstruct essential services would invite legal action.