Patna: Tensions flared in the Bihar capital as police clashed with supporters of political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor, who had mobilised a large demonstration under the banner of Jan Suraj. The protest march, which aimed to gherao the Bihar Assembly, was halted near Chitkohra Golambar, where police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd, leaving several protesters injured.
The demonstration was part of Jan Suraj’s campaign to highlight what Kishor called “three critical failures” of the state government. Addressing supporters, Kishor raised pointed questions: Why have poor families not received the promised Rs 2 lakh employment aid? Why have Dalit landless families not been allotted three decimals of land? And why is there silence on alleged corruption in the ongoing land survey?
As the crowd, reportedly in the thousands, moved from Patna airport towards the protest site in Gardanibagh via Bailey Road, a heavy police barricade was put in place at Chitkohra Golambar. Videos circulating on social media showed scuffles between police and demonstrators, with Prashant Kishor visibly agitated at the scene. Eyewitnesses reported baton charges, shouting matches, and chaos, resulting in multiple injuries among the protesters.
The Jan Suraj Party condemned the police action, calling it an unprovoked and brutal crackdown on what they described as a peaceful protest. “Our workers were exercising their democratic right to dissent, and instead, they were met with violence,” a party spokesperson said.
Prashant Kishor, who reached the injured supporters shortly after the incident, sharply criticised the state government, accusing it of suppressing genuine public concerns through force.
