The police in Bihar’s Jehanabad opened fire as protests against alleged irregularities in competitive exams turned violent on Thursday, reported ABP News.
In a video shared by the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation on social media, police personnel can be seen firing in the air and throwing stones at the protesters. Several gunshots can be heard in the background.
Kumar Parvez, a member of the party who was in Jehanabad, told Scroll that the police had fired 30 to 35 rounds of bullets. He also claimed that some protesters were injured and admitted to the hospital, but did not specify how many persons were hurt.
Scroll contacted Jehanabad District Magistrate Tshering Y Bhutia for a response. This story will be updated if we receive one.
Parvez told Scroll that the police action came after protesters damaged the gate of the district magistrate’s home. He said that there were also some incidents of protesters throwing stones at the police. Stones were also thrown at the district magistrate’s home, ABP News reported.
The police, meanwhile, stated that more than 100 persons have been arrested in connection with Thursday’s incidents.
“During student protests today, certain anti-social elements and outside miscreants attempted to damage government and public property – such as the district magistrate’s residence and roadside railings,” said the police.
It added that “miscreants” were being identified through video footage and strict action will be taken against those responsible for violence.
“Adequate police forces have been deployed at all sensitive locations, including the railway station,” it said.
Youth protests against exam irregularities
The demonstration in Jehanabad came as protests against alleged irregularities in the conduct of competitive examinations spread across the country.
The youth protests began on June 6, when the Cockroach Janta Party political campaign started its demonstration at Jantar Mantar to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging that he was responsible for paper leaks in national competitive examinations.
On Sunday, thousands joined the protest in Delhi after the police forcibly shifted activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike, to hospital.
A march to Parliament on Monday was met with heavy police action. Dozens of protesters were injured in lathi charges and had to brave tear gas.
The police action widened the support for the agitation, which soon spread to other cities.
In Mumbai, the police detained scores of demonstrators between Tuesday and Wednesday as they held solidarity protests with the Cockroach Janta Party’s agitation in Delhi.
*Written by Sneha. Edited by Tanya Shrivastava. *
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