{
  "id": 123958,
  "title": "'Many friends yet to return': Patna students restart protest over NEET stir crackdown",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/many-friends-yet-to-return-patna-students-restart-protest-over-neet",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-04T09:56:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/many-friends-yet-to-return-patna-students-protest-against-neet-stir-crackdown/articleshow/132855592.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hundreds of students and youth activists protested in Patna on Tuesday, accusing the Bihar government of not fulfilling its promise to release those arrested during last month's NEET paper leak demonstrations. Police utilized water cannons to disperse the marchers after they attempted to reach Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary's residence. The demonstrators, carrying flags of various organizations, began at Gandhi Maidan and marched towards the chief minister's residence, only to be halted by police barricades near the Income Tax roundabout.\n\nDuring last month's bandh, nearly 600 people were detained by Bihar Police in response to a call for the resignation of the then Union education minister over allegations of NEET paper leak. Some of those detained were later released as minors, while the rest were jailed. The state Home Department subsequently assured that criminal cases against the students would be withdrawn, and those in jail would be released after a delegation led by AISA president Neha met with Director General of Police Vinay Kumar.\n\nHowever, protesters claim the government's promise has not been met, as \"many of our friends are yet to return home.\" A student activist from Siwan reported excessive force usage during the prior protests, citing an instance where a police personnel fired an AK-47 rifle at students. A sub-divisional police officer stated that the police intervened only after protesters tried to enter a restricted area and had not detained anyone, but helped a delegation appear before a competent authority to present their grievances.",
  "summary": "The demonstrators demanded immediate release of all students still in jail and the withdrawal of criminal cases registered against those arrested during the statewide agitation. \"We want a verified list of those who have been released from jail and those who are still behind bars after being arrested during the protests,\" one of the protesters said. A student activist from Siwan also alleged…",
  "key_points": [
    "Bihar government fails to release detained NEET protestees.",
    "Police use water cannons to disperse protest march.",
    "Students allege incomplete fulfillment of release promise."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Complaint against Noida teen who ‘abused’ PM Modi at NEET protest dropped",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/complaint-against-noida-teen-who-abused-pm-modi-at-neet-protest",
        "published": "2026-08-05T00:55:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}