Police in Patna used water cannons and lathi charges on Tuesday to disperse thousands of students protesting the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission exam [2].
The clash underscores growing tension between civil service aspirants and state authorities over the integrity of high-stakes competitive examinations in Bihar. For many students, these exams represent the primary path to stable government employment.
The protesters gathered near police barricades in Patna to demand the total cancellation of the 70th BPSC exam [1]. Students said that irregularities marred the testing process and called for a fresh, fair test to be administered [1].
As the crowd grew, the situation escalated into violence. Reports indicate that stone pelting occurred during the demonstration [2]. Police responded by deploying water cannons and conducting lathi charges to break up the assembly and clear the area [2].
The scale of the protest involved thousands of students who traveled to the city to voice their grievances [2]. The students said that the current results or process cannot be trusted due to the alleged irregularities [1].
Authorities have not yet announced a formal response to the demands for a new examination. The use of force to disperse the students has added a layer of volatility to the ongoing dispute over the commission's conduct [2].
“Police in Patna used water cannons and lathi charges on Tuesday to disperse thousands of students.”
The unrest in Patna reflects a systemic crisis of confidence in India's regional recruitment examinations. When aspirants perceive a lack of transparency or fairness in the BPSC process, it often leads to mass mobilization and civil unrest, as the professional stakes for the youth in Bihar are exceptionally high.
