The Bihar police resorted to lathicharges and water cannons on December 29, to disperse Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirants protesting against the alleged paper leak of the 70th BPSC Preliminary Examination held on December 13. The incident, which took place near the Chief Minister’s residence, has sparked widespread criticism and political backlash.
The protests, ongoing for over a week, stem from allegations of question paper leaks and administrative mismanagement during the examination. Aspirants argue that the integrity of the competitive exam has been compromised, jeopardising the future of over 3.28 lakh candidates. They are demanding a re-examination to restore fairness and accountability.
On Sunday, hundreds of aspirants attempted to breach police barricades near the Chief Minister’s residence, prompting authorities to use water cannons and lathicharges to disperse the crowd. Subsequently, an FIR was filed against 600-700 individuals for unlawful assembly and instigating unrest. Among those named is Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party.
The police action has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Rahul Gandhi accused the NDA government of stifling student voices, calling the police response undemocratic.
Mallikarjun Kharge took to X to denounce the violence, writing: “The barbaric lathicharge and inhumane atrocities on BPSC aspirants by Bihar’s NDA government are an attempt to hide paper leaks and irregularities. Using force to demoralise the youth is shameful and condemnable. Over the past seven years, more than 70 papers have leaked under BJP governance, leaving the future of 3.28 lakh students in limbo.”
Priyanka Gandhi also voiced her outrage, stating: “In Bihar, for the second time in three days, students have faced atrocities. Instead of addressing corruption and paper leaks in exams, the government is silencing student voices with water cannons and lathis in this severe cold. This double-engine government symbolises double oppression against the youth.”
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav described the police action as a “brutal crackdown” and expressed solidarity with the protesters.
Prashant Kishor told presspersons that government officials assured protesters of discussions to address their demands. A five-member student delegation has been invited to meet the Chief Secretary. However, Kishor emphasised that if students remain dissatisfied, protests would continue.
Encouraging lawful conduct, he stated: “I urge students to act within the law. If injustice persists, we will stand with them in full strength. I will also begin an indefinite hunger strike on January 2 to pressurise the government.”
Aspirants have called for a statewide bandh today to intensify their demands for justice. Meanwhile, hashtags like #BPSCProtest, #PaperLeak, and #StudentVoices have gained momentum on social media, fuelling nationwide debates on systemic failures in recruitment processes and the increasing frequency of paper leaks.
The Bihar government has assured that the students’ grievances will be addressed promptly.
