Patna: Police have registered 24 FIRs following violent protests in Patna on July 22 and 25, with cases filed at Kotwali, Gandhi Maidan, Patliputra and Sachivalaya police stations.
Police teams have arrested 258 accused people in connection with the cases and sent them to judicial custody, according to the details provided by the police.
The FIRs name 285 people as accused. Police have also booked around 6,000 unidentified protesters and are examining video footage and other evidence to establish their identities.
Gandhi Maidan Records Highest Arrests
The Gandhi Maidan police station recorded the highest number of arrests, with 138 protesters sent to jail, according to the police.
The Kotwali police team arrested 49 people. Thirty detained women were later released after furnishing personal bonds, taking into account the circumstances of the case.
Police said further arrests could follow as investigators identify people allegedly involved in the violence.
43 Police Personnel Injured
At least 43 police personnel, including an inspector general, station house officers, sub-inspectors and constables, were injured during the clashes, lathi-charge and ensuing disorder.
More than 300 students taking part in the protest were also injured, according to the information provided. Around 60 students reportedly suffered serious injuries, including head injuries and fractures.
11 Vehicles Damaged
The protests also resulted in damage to public and police property in areas around Gandhi Maidan and Kotwali.
According to the police, 11 vehicles belonging to the police and members of the public were damaged during the unrest.
Patna SSP Kartikeya Sharma said the situation in the city had returned to normal. He also said more than 50 people had been arrested in connection with the incident, although the broader police figures provided in the case details put the total number of arrests at 258.
Key Arrests
Among those reported to have been arrested in connection with the protests are:
- Tej Pratap Yadav, founder of Janshakti Janata Dal
- Sandeep Saurabh, Paliganj MLA and CPI(ML) leader
- Shantanu Shekhar, president of Patna University Students’ Union
- Dhananjay, state president of AISA
- Dipankar Mishra, general secretary of AISA
- Divyam, state secretary of AISA
- Afrin, AISA leader
- Manish Yadav, former students’ union president
- Anand Kumar Yadav, president of Paliganj Mukhiya Sangh
Police are continuing to examine available video footage and other evidence as part of the investigation. Further arrests are possible as investigators identify people named in the cases or allegedly involved in the unrest.
