6 days ago
Six-year-old Patna Protester Goes Viral After Police Detention
Aditya Kumar is six years old and attended a student protest in Patna.
The students were protesting what they called unfairness in recruitment examinations.
Police and protesters clashed after people moved past barricades.
Some protesters were detained, and Aditya was taken to a police station.
Aditya said police frightened him and hurt his parents.
Police denied those claims.
Police said they took him away to keep him safe.
Videos of Aditya speaking about the protest became popular online.
He also said he does not want to become a police officer.
Six-year-old Aditya Kumar became prominent during a Patna student protest over alleged BPSC examination irregularities.
Police detained several protesters after a march breached barricades at Dak Bungalow Chowk on August 25.
Aditya said police threatened him and assaulted his parents, allegations the police denied.
Police said Aditya was taken to a station for his safety and later handed to his mother.
Videos of Aditya criticizing police action and rejecting a future police career spread widely online.
- Who
- Six-year-old Aditya Kumar, student protesters, and Patna police were involved.
- What
- A student protest over alleged BPSC examination irregularities led to clashes, detentions, and debate over Aditya’s treatment.
- Where
- The protest took place in Patna, including Gardanibagh, Gandhi Maidan, and Dak Bungalow Chowk.
- When
- The protest began on 18 August and intensified on 25 August; Aditya’s detention was reported after the latter incident.
- Why
- Students and job aspirants were protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, including the 70th BPSC examination.
Family and protesters’ account
Police account
Why Aditya was taken away
Family and protesters’ account
Aditya and accounts surrounding the incident portrayed his removal as police detention during the protest and questioned why a six-year-old was taken away.
Police account
Police said he was kept at a police station for his own safety during unrest and was later handed to his mother.
Treatment of Aditya’s family
Family and protesters’ account
Aditya alleged that police threatened him and assaulted his mother and father, and said he refused a chocolate offered by an officer because of this treatment.
Police account
Police denied the allegations that officers assaulted the family.
Responsibility for the child’s presence
Family and protesters’ account
The incident prompted criticism of the police for taking a six-year-old from the protest site.
Police account
An officer said the mother and her husband should have been more careful and should not have allowed the child to roam in an area experiencing unrest.
Key facts
- Child involved
- Aditya Kumar, age six
- Protest start
- 18 August
- Major escalation
- 25 August, when protesters marched toward the chief minister’s residence
- Protest location
- Dak Bungalow Chowk, Patna
- Police action
- Water cannons, lathi-charge, and detention of several protesters
- Reported station stay
- Around five hours
- Police explanation
- Aditya was taken to a police station for his safety and handed to his mother
Quotes
Aditya Kumar
Six-year-old student who attended the Patna protest and described his alleged treatment by police
“Police hame Kotwali thana lekar gayi aur dhamkaya gaya ki, ‘Ab agar andolan mein jayenge toh marenge aur jail bhejenge.’ Humko daraya gaya aur mummy-papa ko maara gaya,”
theprint.in
“Hum police kisi bhi haalat mein nahi banenge. Agar police bane, toh koi neta ya vidhayak dabaav banayega aur case likhne ko bolega,”
theprint.in
Sources
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