Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Bihar Students’ March Turns Violent as Police Use Force
Many students in Patna were protesting about government recruitment exams.
They wanted to march to the chief minister’s home.
Police stopped them with barricades at a busy crossing.
Some protesters broke through the barricades and threw stones, injuring several policemen.
Police used water cannons and batons to move the crowd back.
The students said they wanted fair and transparent exams.
They also opposed parts of the recruitment process that they said disadvantaged Hindi-medium candidates.
Some farmers joined the protest because they feared losing land to a planned township project.
Several policemen were injured when students allegedly pelted them with stones during a march in Patna.
Police used water cannons and baton charges after protesters broke through barricades at Dak Bungalow crossing.
The students had marched from Gandhi Maidan toward the Bihar chief minister’s residence, where several people were detained.
BPSC aspirants are demanding exam reforms, transparency, fair opportunities, and cancellation of the 70th BPSC examination.
Farmers opposing a township policy joined the march, seeking protection for their land from acquisition.
- Who
- Bihar Public Service Commission job aspirants, other students, some farmers, and police.
- What
- A protest march toward the Bihar chief minister’s residence turned confrontational, with stone-pelting, police action, injuries, and detentions.
- When
- August 25, according to the report.
- Where
- Patna, Bihar, particularly Gandhi Maidan and Dak Bungalow crossing.
- Why
- Students demanded cancellation of the 70th BPSC examination, a single-tier BPSC-TRE 4 exam, recruitment transparency, Bihar Staff Selection Commission exams, and fair opportunities for Hindi-medium candidates; farmers opposed land acquisition linked to a township policy.
Protesting Students and Farmers
Police and Authorities
Recruitment examinations
Protesting Students and Farmers
Students demanded transparent recruitment, a single-tier BPSC-TRE 4 examination, BSSC recruitment exams, fair opportunities for Hindi-medium candidates, and cancellation of the 70th BPSC exam over alleged irregularities.
Police and Authorities
The authorities responded to the march by detaining some individuals and using barricades, water cannons, and batons to control the crowd.
Land acquisition
Protesting Students and Farmers
Farmers who joined the protest sought protection for their land from acquisition under the government’s new township policy.
Police and Authorities
The reported township policy concerns the Pataliputra Greenfield Satellite Township, described as a planned urban expansion project for Patna.
Street confrontation
Protesting Students and Farmers
Some students broke through police barricades and continued protesting despite the use of water cannons.
Police and Authorities
Officials said stone-pelting by students injured several policemen, prompting a baton charge to disperse the protesters.
- Protest route
- The march began at Gandhi Maidan and moved toward the Bihar chief minister’s residence.
- Main confrontation
- The confrontation occurred at Dak Bungalow crossing after protesters broke through police barricades.
- Police response
- Police used water cannons and baton charges to disperse the protesters.
- Student demands
- The demands included transparency in recruitment, a single-tier BPSC-TRE 4 examination, BSSC recruitment exams, and fair opportunities for Hindi-medium candidates.
- Examination dispute
- Students citing alleged irregularities demanded cancellation of the 70th BPSC examination.
- Additional protesters
- Farmers joined the march while seeking protection of their land from acquisition.
- Security deployment
- Police were deployed at major intersections, with CRPF and RAF personnel added at Dak Bungalow crossing.