Violent clashes erupted across Bihar during the statewide Bihar Bandh called by leftwing student organisations over the NEET paper leak. In Patna and Aurangabad, police lathi-charged youths, fired tear gas, and detained protesters after stonepelting incidents.
A police constable in Bihar's Siwan district was suspended after a video showing him using an AK-47 rifle during a student protest went viral. An inquiry has been initiated, and political leaders have reacted strongly to the incident, which occurred during a statewide bandh against the NEET paper leak.
The Bihar government has announced the withdrawal of all cases filed against protesters involved in demonstrations concerning the NEET paper leak. This decision includes the release of individuals who were jailed in connection with these incidents.
Shambhavi Choudhary, an MP from the Lok Jan Shakti Party (Ram Vilas), has condemned the alleged use of AK-47 rifles and lathicharge against student protesters in Bihar. While acknowledging the presence of anti-social elements, she emphasised the right to peaceful protest. The condemnation follows a police constable's suspension for allegedly using an AK-47 during a protest in Siwan, Bihar, amidst widespread demonstrations against the NEET paper leak.
Women workers of the NDA in Bihar enforced a bandh to protest alleged abuse directed at PM Modi's mother during a Congress event. Protests were held across the state, with BJP leaders participating in sit-ins.
The day-long Bihar bandh was called by various student organisations, particularly AISA, the student wing of Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), an ultra Left party, to protest attacks on north Indian candidates during a railway recruitment examination in Mumbai.
A resident of Bihar's Kishanganj district, Mohammad Sadaqat, claims he was wrongly booked for a NEET paper leak protest despite being in Russia for four months. His video has gone viral, prompting the state government to announce the withdrawal of all cases related to the protests and the release of those arrested.
The Congress party has strongly criticised the BJP government following allegations that AK-47 rifles were used against protesting students in Bihar, with Rahul Gandhi demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's apology and action against those responsible for the 'deadly attacks and brutality'.
Besides, over 2,000 people including workers and leaders of the opposition parties were arrested across Bihar during their protest on Friday, police sources told rediff.com in Patna.
An alert has been sounded across the state and patrolling has also been intensified in view of the bandh, they said.
As many as 13,500 personnel of Bihar Military Police and central forces have been deployed across the state to assist the local police.
A railway station and a police vehicle were torched and several law enforcers injured in stone-pelting incidents on the fourth consecutive day of protests against Agnipath scheme on Saturday when a bandh was also called to press for the demand for rollback of the new scheme for recruitment in armed forces.
The Bihar bandh called by opposition parties to protest against the killing of three people in police firing in Madhubani district on Monday affected normal life across the state. Most shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed in Patna and other districts.
Normal life in Bihar was on Friday affected by a dawn to dusk `bandh' called by students' bodies in protest against anomalies in the format of exams conducted by the Railway Recruitment Board and police high handedness against protesting students.
Anant Singh, a JD-U MLA from Mokama and close aide of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, already has 21 criminal cases pending against him. And he reportedly continues his illegal activities even now.
Nearly 3,000 persons, including Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad and his Lok Janshakti Party counterpart Ramvilas Paswan were arrested during a 24-hour Bihar bandh on Monday which hit rail and road services in the state and witnessed stray incidents of stone pelting.
AISA general secretary and Bihar MLA Sandeep Saurav along with others in a press statement said that the committee formed by the ministry is a "conspiracy" to postpone the matter till the elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Opposition leaders took out processions in Patna shouting anti-government slogans to enforce the bandh in defiance of prohibitory orders.
Bandh suppertors set two buses ablaze and smashed the windscreens of nearly a dozen vehicles.
The incident occurred when both leaders attempted to board the van carrying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, but were stopped by security guards.
The NDA has called the dawn-to-dusk bandh to protest against the removal of D P Ojha from the post of director general of police.
'Talking about boycotting polls is simply a move to galvanise party leaders, workers, and supporters for the big political fight.'
The response was tepid in other parts of the country even as several INDIA bloc parties as well as other non-BJP outfits extended their support to the bandh.
The bandh was called by Left parties in protest against CAA and NRC. It is being supported by several small political parties of the state.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of rigging the Maharashtra assembly elections and expressed concerns about similar tactics being used in the upcoming Bihar polls. He alleged that the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar is an attempt to manipulate the election process.
After the killing of four people in police firing in Kahalgaon town in Bihar's Bhagalpur district during a protest for adequate power supply, opposition parties have called for a Bihar bandh on January 25.
'The Congress has faded and fighting for survival.'
A nationwide strike called by central trade unions saw a mixed response across India, impacting various sectors and states differently, with some areas experiencing disruptions while others remained largely unaffected.
A state-wide shutdown spearheaded by the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal Lok Janshakti Party combine in Bihar against the recent hike in fuel prices began on Saturday morning.Elaborate security arrangements have been made to prevent any untoward incidents. Essential services including hospitals, water supply and electricity supply have been exempted from the purview of the shutdown.The administration will try to keep all links to major towns open.
The railway ministry said it took the decision for the safety of passengers.
The Ganga's rising water level is causing significant flooding in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh districts.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday called for a daylong 'Bihar Bandh' on March 1 to protest against denial of special category status to the state by the Congress led UPA government.
'We have 38 Dalits who are MLAs and ministers. But that does not mean the Dalits of Bihar are prospering.'
Accusing the Janata Dal-United of betrayal, Bihar BJP on Sunday said it had walked out of National Democratic Alliance despite repeated assurances that it would be consulted whenever the prime ministerial candidate is chosen.
The video used by the Congress featured Menon's Special Ops character, Himmat Singh, asking viewers to join the campaign.
The NDA has called for the bandh to protest against the removal of director general of police D P Ojha.
West Bengal had witnessed violence and arson from December 13 to 17 during protests against the new citizenship law.
Maoists blew up railway tracks in Latehar district of Jharkhand and Vaishali district of Bihar on Saturday, the first day of a two-day Jharkhand-Bihar bandh called by them.
