Protesters, police clash amid violent Bihar student protests; Tej Pratap detained
Violent clashes erupted across several parts of Bihar on Saturday as protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak escalated during a statewide bandh, with demonstrators
Violent clashes erupted across several parts of Bihar on Saturday as protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak escalated during a statewide bandh, with demonstrators throwing stones at police, vandalising public property and blocking roads in multiple districts. As the unrest unfolded across the country, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down in a bid to prevent the situation from worsening further. Read Full Story Meanwhile, amid the unrest in Bihar, Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) chief Tej Pratap Yadav was detained by police in Patna after joining a demonstration in support of the agitating students, while police reported injuries to personnel and tightened security across the state. VIOLENT SCENES ACROSS BIHAR The most serious incidents were reported in Patna, Chapra and Aurangabad, where confrontations between protesters and security forces disrupted normal life. Heavy police deployment was rushed to sensitive locations as authorities worked to restore order following reports of stone-throwing, attacks on police vehicles and attempts to breach barricades. In Chapra, located in Saran district, student protesters allegedly hurled stones at police personnel, prompting senior district officials, including District Magistrate Vaibhav Srivastava and Senior Superintendent of Police Vineet Kumar, to rush to the spot.
Additional forces were deployed before police dispersed the crowd and brought the situation under control. Officials said the law and order situation had stabilised, although tension continued to prevail in the area. In Patna, protesters gathered near Gandhi Maidan and Ram Gulam Chowk in support of the Bihar bandh called over the NEET paper leak issue. Visuals from the protest showed demonstrators vandalising a traffic police booth, damaging police vehicles and clashing with security personnel. Police responded by firing tear gas shells after protesters allegedly resorted to stone-throwing and attempted to break through barricades. Several students were detained during the operation. Patna SSP Kartikeya K Sharma said protesters had targeted security personnel during the demonstration. "Protesters threw stones at us. They even tried to break the barricading. We have detained several students. Police is on high alert. We will trace the troublemakers and take appropriate action against them," he said. TEJ PRATAP YADAV DETAINED Tej Pratap Yadav, who had joined the protesters to express solidarity with students, was taken into custody from Exhibition Road within the Gandhi Maidan police station limits.
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