Stone-pelting, lathi-charge, water cannons mark students’ protest over BPSC exams
The students, many of whom were carrying the tricolour in their hands, jostled with the police and broke through barricades at the Dak Bungalow crossing
On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, a significant student protest unfolded in Patna, Bihar, as thousands of aspiring teachers clashed with the Bihar Police. The demonstrators, many of whom were gearing up for the Teachers’ Recruitment Exams organized by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC), marched towards the Chief Minister’s residence to voice their concerns.
Their primary demand was for a single-stage written exam, rather than the current system of prelims followed by mains. Some protesters also called for the cancellation of recent Combined Competitive Exams due to alleged irregularities.
The protest, which began at the historic Gandhi Maidan, quickly turned violent as the protesters, including members of left-wing organizations like SFI and DYFI, reached the city's busiest thoroughfare, Dak Bungalow crossing. The police responded with water cannons and lathi-charge, forcing the protesters to disperse. However, they continued their agitation, breaking past barricades and lodging stones at the police personnel.
Among the video footage circulating on social media, one can see police officers slapping a protester and a female activist fainting by the roadside. It remains unclear if she was injured during the clash or due to heat exhaustion. Several protesters were arrested, though the exact number and circumstances remain undisclosed. The students expressed their anger over a comment made by BPSC examination controller Rakesh Kumar Singh on Monday, in which he reportedly insulted the agitators.
Opposition leaders, including RJD working president Tejashwi Yadav, criticized Singh's remarks, calling for action against the "foul-mouthed" examination controller. Singh later issued a video statement apologizing for his comments, stating that he merely used a proverb and did not intend to offend anyone.
The CPI(ML) Liberation, Bihar's most prominent left-wing party, strongly condemned the police actions, accusing the BJP-led government of targeting students. The party urged the state to engage in dialogue with the students and address their grievances promptly. State Secretary Kunal emphasized the need for medical aid for those injured during the lathi-charge.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
