Patna: Patna police used batons and water cannon on Tuesday to disperse thousands of candidates protesting against cuts to teaching posts in Bihar’s fourth phase of recruitment.
The demonstrations, involving an estimated 6,000 candidates, turned violent after protesters tried to break through three layers of barricades at Dak Bungalow crossing and march towards the chief minister’s residence. Officers were seen carrying tear gas shells, while candidates pushed back against the police in Gandhi Maidan before regrouping at Dak Bungalow.
Magistrate MH Khan was sent to negotiate with the demonstrators, but tensions flared when some candidates fell at his feet, pleading for a meeting with the additional chief secretary of the education department. Five representatives were later permitted to meet the official.
The protests stem from a statement made by Bihar’s education minister on Teacher’s Day, announcing that only 26,000 teaching positions would be filled in the latest round of recruitment, far fewer than the more than 100,000 posts earlier promised by the government. Protesters have demanded that notification for 120,000 vacancies be issued before 15 September.
The agitation began at Patna College at 11am and grew as candidates moved through Khaitan Market, Bakarganj, Gandhi Maidan and JP Golambar before converging on Dak Bungalow crossing.
