Patna: Police in Patna used batons and kicks to disperse thousands of students protesting for the implementation of a domicile policy in Bihar’s teacher recruitment process today. The protest turned violent near Dak Bungalow crossing when students tried to block the car of a BJP MP passing through the area.
The students, many of them young women, gathered to demand the immediate release of the fourth phase of teacher vacancies and reservation for local candidates. They alleged that candidates from Uttar Pradesh and other states had been favoured in the first three phases, leaving Bihar youth feeling excluded.
As the protest intensified, police resorted to lathi-charge. Officers without batons were seen kicking and punching students indiscriminately, including female protesters. The chaos led to a stampede in which several students fell and sustained injuries.
Traffic on Exhibition Road and Dak Bungalow Square remained paralysed for nearly two hours between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm. School buses were stranded until a six-member student delegation, led by student leader Dilip, agreed to allow them passage after leaving to meet the Chief Secretary.
Speaking before the meeting, Dilip said, “Last time we protested, the librarian vacancy was released but domicile was not implemented. We demand at least 90% domicile in the fourth phase of vacancies. If the government does not act today, we will launch protests in every district and call for a Bihar Bandh.”
The students initially planned to meet the Chief Minister but decided to present their demands to the Chief Secretary when the meeting could not be arranged. They vowed to intensify their agitation if the government fails to guarantee local reservation in upcoming recruitments.
