Patna: A large number of Bihar Police Sub-Inspector aspirants staged a protest in Patna on Monday against the cancellation of the main written examination conducted for recruitment to 1,799 Sub-Inspector posts.
The candidates gathered near JP Golambar and demanded that the Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) withdraw its decision to cancel the examination and allow the recruitment process to continue.
The protest later turned tense after demonstrators attempted to move towards Maurya Lok but were stopped by police barricades. Following a confrontation and reports of pushing between protesters and police personnel, police used a lathicharge to disperse and control the crowd.
Heavy Police Deployment at JP Golambar
A significant police presence was deployed at JP Golambar in view of the protest.
Additional police personnel, including women police officers, were stationed at the location to manage the gathering and prevent protesters from moving towards restricted areas.
The candidates began raising slogans and displaying posters criticising the BPSSC’s decision to cancel the main examination.
Police attempted to stop the protesters from proceeding beyond the barricades, leading to tension at the site.
Candidates Demand Withdrawal of Cancellation Decision
The protesting aspirants demanded that the authorities reconsider the decision to cancel the main examination.
The candidates said they had already appeared in the examination and subsequently moved ahead in the recruitment process. They argued that cancelling the examination after the process had progressed has caused significant disruption to their preparation and career plans.
They want the recruitment process for the 1,799 Sub-Inspector vacancies to be taken forward instead of conducting the examination again.
Why Was the SI Main Examination Cancelled?
The protest follows the BPSSC’s decision to cancel the main written examination amid allegations of irregularities.
The examination had been conducted in two shifts as part of the recruitment process. The main examination result had also been declared, with 10,759 candidates qualifying for the Physical Efficiency Test (PET).
The cancellation came after allegations concerning question-paper irregularities surfaced from examination centres.
The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) has been investigating cases linked to the alleged irregularities, including matters reported from Purnia and Gaya.
Question-Paper Irregularities Under Investigation
The controversy gained attention after a photograph of an examination question paper was reportedly circulated from Purnia after the examination.
According to the investigation cited in reports, a teacher at Rajkiya Kanya High School in Purnia was arrested. Police alleged that the teacher photographed a question paper after the examination and sent the image to a relative.
A separate case was also registered at Rampur police station in Gaya in connection with alleged irregularities related to the examination.
The EOU formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the cases and investigate the circumstances surrounding the question-paper photographs and other complaints.
BPSSC Says Fresh Examination Will Be Announced
Following the cancellation, the BPSSC said a fresh examination date would be announced separately.
The commission has also advised candidates to rely only on official information and avoid unverified messages circulating on social media.
Candidates have been cautioned against middlemen and asked to report suspicious activities to the police.
Aspirants Say Cancellation Has Affected Their Preparation
The protesting candidates said they had invested considerable time and effort in preparing for the recruitment examination.
According to the protesters, many candidates had already cleared the main examination and were preparing for subsequent stages of the recruitment process. The cancellation has forced them to return to examination preparation and created uncertainty about the recruitment timeline.
They are demanding a review of the cancellation decision and want the authorities to find a solution that does not disadvantage candidates who had already appeared in the examination.
Police Try to Control Situation
The protest remained tense as candidates attempted to move forward from JP Golambar.
Police personnel prevented the protesters from crossing the barricades. After the situation escalated and pushing was reported between the two sides, police resorted to a lathicharge to disperse the gathering.
The protest highlighted the growing frustration among candidates over the cancellation of the Sub-Inspector examination.
Recruitment Process Now Faces Uncertainty
The cancellation has left thousands of candidates awaiting clarity on the next stage of the recruitment process.
While the BPSSC is expected to announce a fresh examination schedule, the EOU investigation into the alleged irregularities is also continuing.
For the protesting aspirants, the immediate demand remains the same: reconsider the cancellation of the main examination and find a way to complete the 1,799-post Sub-Inspector recruitment process without further delay.
