Bihar: Outcry over Lathicharge on Girl Students, Police Inspector To Face Suspension

Lathicharge in Bihar

ARA – The incident of lathicharge on girl students during a Senate meeting at Veer Kunwar Singh University in Ara, Bhojpur district, has garnered widespread attention and condemnation. Following the viral video showing a protesting girl student being beaten with sticks, Bhojpur SP Pramod Kumar Yadav has taken immediate action, closing the line to Udwantnagar police station incharge Awadhesh Yadav and recommending suspension and departmental action to Shahabad DIG Naveen Chandra.

While further action is pending from the level of DIG, no replacement for the police station chief has been announced yet. SP Pramod Kumar Yadav personally confirmed the closure of the line to the police station incharge on Sunday.

The Senate meeting at Veer Kunwar Singh University on Saturday witnessed protests from students who had surrounded the Governor with their demands. The situation escalated, leading to a confrontation with the police and subsequent lathicharge.

Injuries were reported among several students, including Shaurya Pathak, Rituraj Choudhary, Chandan Kumar, Akash Pandey, Sanskar Mishra, Sameer Singh, Adarsh Singh, Harsh Raj Mangalam, Rajan Kumar, and Rajvardhan Chaubey. Student leader Shaurya Pathak sustained serious head injuries during the incident.

SP Pramod Kumar Yadav justified the police response, citing law and order problems arising from the demonstration and siege at the university. The gate was reportedly broken by protesting students, leading to mild force used by the police, resulting in injuries to one or two students.

The controversy intensified as a video surfaced showing Udwantnagar police station incharge Awadhesh Kumar Yadav beating a protesting girl with sticks. In response, SP Yadav conducted enquiry and hinted at potential action, including the suspension of the police station chief, in light of the serious allegations.

The incident has raised concerns about the handling of student protests and the need for accountability in maintaining law and order during such events.