Patna: Protests erupted across Patna on Friday as demonstrators blocked trains and roads in response to a Bihar Bandh called by Jan Adhikar Party leader Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav. The bandh was organized in support of BPSC candidates demanding the cancellation of the 70th preliminary examination due to alleged irregularities.
The protestors first gathered at Secretariat Halt Railway Station around 9 am, where they stopped a passenger train and raised slogans against the government. Some even lay on the tracks in an attempt to halt train services. However, police deployed at the station swiftly intervened, clearing the tracks within 10 minutes and ensuring the train resumed its journey.
Half an hour later, the Sampark Kranti Express heading to Delhi was briefly disrupted as demonstrators again attempted to block its path. Police successfully removed the protesters, but tensions escalated when Pappu Yadav arrived at the station. Supporters of the Jan Adhikar Party stopped another passenger train, prompting additional police action.
The bandh also extended to road blockades in various parts of the state, disrupting public transport and daily activities.
In a parallel move, student organizations affiliated with the INDIA Alliance, including NSUI, AISA, AISF, and RJD, announced a march to the Chief Minister’s residence. Scheduled to begin at noon, the demonstration focuses on demands for the cancellation of the BPSC exam, justice for the lathi charge victims, and a Rs 5 crore compensation for the family of Sonu, a protester who died during the agitation.
