Patna: A day after violent clashes between students and police rocked Patna over the alleged NEET paper leak issue, investigators are examining whether the protest was pre-planned with coordinated support from outside Bihar. Police are also probing the role of student organisations, coaching institutes and unidentified individuals accused of orchestrating the violence that left several police personnel and protesters injured.
The protest, which began as a demonstration led by students demanding action over the alleged paper leak, escalated into one of the largest confrontations in the city in recent months. Protesters breached multiple security barricades, marched towards the Chief Minister’s residence and Raj Bhavan, and clashed with police.
Probe Focuses on Planning and Coordination
According to sources associated with the investigation, the protest was not a spontaneous gathering but was organised following consultations between student groups in Delhi and Bihar.
The demonstration was initially called by the All India Students’ Association (AISA). It later received support from student wings affiliated with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), resulting in a much larger turnout.
Investigators are also examining whether certain coaching institutes played a role in mobilising students. Police are analysing digital communications to determine who circulated messages mobilising protesters, who brought stones to the protest site, and who initiated the stone-pelting.
Delhi Link Under Investigation
Sources said the police are investigating messages allegedly circulated among student groups before the protest. The messages reportedly advised participants to assemble in small groups instead of gathering at one location, making it difficult for police to estimate the size of the crowd.
Investigators are now attempting to trace the origin of these messages and determine whether the protesters’ movements matched the strategy outlined in them.
How Protesters Reached High-Security Zones
According to police sources, around 500 protesters were initially stopped near JP Golambar. However, several other groups reportedly entered Dak Bungalow Chowk through different lanes across the city.
As more protesters continued to arrive from multiple directions, the crowd swelled rapidly, overwhelming the police deployment. Officials believe this strategy prevented law enforcement from accurately assessing the scale of the demonstration at an early stage.
Police sources estimate that nearly 10,000 protesters eventually gathered at Dak Bungalow Chowk.
Violence Escalated After Barricades Were Breached
Officials said the situation deteriorated after protesters broke through police barricades at Dak Bungalow Chowk. Stone-pelting followed, injuring several police personnel and damaging government vehicles.
The crowd then moved towards Income Tax Golambar, broke another security barrier and advanced towards the Chief Minister’s residence and Raj Bhavan.
Police are reviewing CCTV footage, mobile phone videos and other digital evidence to determine whether the violence erupted spontaneously or was instigated by specific individuals within the crowd.
Why Police Delayed Lathi Charge
According to police officials, officers on duty were instructed to exercise maximum restraint as the demonstration initially involved students. Senior officers reportedly prioritised negotiations and crowd control measures over the use of force.
Sources said repeated requests for additional personnel and permission to take stronger action were made during the protest. However, police refrained from using force until stone-pelting intensified and security personnel sustained injuries.
Authorities eventually deployed additional forces, used water cannons and tear gas, and later resorted to a lathi charge after protesters attempted to enter high-security areas.
Vehicles Attacked, Policemen Injured
During the clashes, protesters allegedly attacked several vehicles, including those belonging to Agriculture Minister Ram Kripal Yadav, a BJP MLA and the Inspector General’s escort vehicle. Multiple police personnel sustained injuries, with one officer reportedly suffering a serious head injury during the stone-pelting.
Several students were also injured during the subsequent police lathi charge.
SSP Calls Protest ‘Pre-Planned’
Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said the police had shown considerable restraint before resorting to force.
“The police exercised maximum patience and repeatedly appealed to the protesters to maintain peace. Several of our personnel were injured. Water cannons were used, and force was applied only when necessary,” Sharma said.
He further claimed that there were no loose stones in the protest area, suggesting that some participants may have brought stones with them in advance.
“It appears that certain individuals came prepared with stones. The incident seems to have been organised in a planned manner. We suspect that anti-social elements infiltrated what began as a student protest. Those responsible will not be spared,” the SSP added.
Police have launched a detailed investigation to identify those involved in the violence and determine whether the unrest was part of a coordinated effort.
