Patna: An event attended by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar at Patna University was disrupted by student protests on Monday, forcing authorities to conclude proceedings early.
Nitish had arrived to inaugurate newly constructed administrative and academic buildings when slogans erupted on campus, creating a tense situation.
Deputy chief ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, along with education minister Sunil Kumar, were also present at the event.
Officials said the ceremony was shortened amid continued protests, with the chief minister and other dignitaries leaving the venue shortly after the inauguration.
Police personnel deployed on campus struggled to manage the crowd, as students gathered in large numbers. Senior officials, including the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police, were present as authorities attempted to restore order.
The protests were led by student union representatives, who alleged that the union had not been formally informed about the event. Demonstrators attempted to disrupt proceedings, with one leader reportedly trying to symbolically lock the building before being stopped by police. The agitating students were heard sloganeering, “Samrat go back.”
Students also surrounded senior ministers to voice their grievances, prompting intervention by administrative officials to defuse the situation.
The buildings inaugurated at the event include a G+8 administrative block and a G+9 academic block, constructed at a cost of Rs 147.29 crore. Officials said the new facilities are equipped with modern amenities, including CCTV surveillance, seminar halls, elevators, solar power systems and improved infrastructure.
The university administration plans to shift its headquarters to the new administrative building, while postgraduate departments will be moved to the academic block.
Despite the disruption, officials said the project is expected to enhance academic infrastructure and provide improved facilities for students.
