Patna, July 23: The nationwide agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak reached Bihar’s Jehanabad on Thursday, where a student protest turned tense after demonstrators attempted to march towards the District Magistrate’s (DM) residence.
The situation escalated into clashes with police, prompting authorities to resort to a lathi‑charge and fire warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd.
Hundreds of students from different parts of the city gathered on the main thoroughfare during the afternoon, raising slogans against the government and demanding transparency in the examination process.
The protesters also sought a fair and impartial investigation into the alleged paper leak and strict action against those responsible.
The demonstration intensified when the students marched towards the DM’s residence in an apparent attempt to lay siege to the premises. Police personnel deployed in the area stopped the protesters from advancing, leading to a confrontation.
A section of the crowd allegedly began pelting police personnel with bricks and stones during the standoff. In response, the police carried out a lathi‑charge and fired warning shots into the air to disperse the gathering and restore order.
The police action triggered panic at the scene, with protesters and bystanders scrambling in different directions.
After retreating from the DM’s residence, the protesters regrouped at Arwal Mor, where they blocked the main road for some time. When police reached the spot, the demonstrators moved towards Hospital Mor, where they again staged a road blockade, disrupting traffic on several major routes and causing inconvenience to commuters.
Student groups continued to gather at different locations across the city until the evening, while police remained deployed to prevent further escalation. Intermittent confrontations between protesters and security personnel kept the atmosphere tense throughout the day.
The protesting students reiterated their demands for an impartial investigation into the alleged NEET paper leak, stringent action against those found responsible, and greater transparency in the examination system to safeguard the interests of genuine candidates.
Meanwhile, the district administration said adequate measures had been taken to maintain law and order. Police continued to monitor the situation closely, and additional security personnel remained deployed at sensitive locations.
The situation in Jehanabad remained tense but under close administrative surveillance.
--IANS
