The Patna Police have initiated a significant identification campaign following violent incidents during a student protest regarding the alleged NEET paper leak in Bihar’s capital on July 22. Authorities have shared photos of 117 individuals suspected of involvement in stone-pelting and other violent acts on the social media platform X, urging the public to help identify them. The protest, aimed at demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak allegations, saw thousands of students marching from Gandhi Maidan to the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
During the demonstration, a segment of the crowd reportedly resorted to violence, including stone-pelting directed at police officers and media personnel. The police have disclosed that the released images were taken during the protest and are part of an ongoing effort to identify those believed to be linked to the violence. Legal action will be taken against the suspects once their identities are confirmed.
As the crowd grew, the police initially used water cannons to control the situation. However, when the protesters allegedly persisted and the scenario worsened, the police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. Managing the large assembly posed challenges as thousands of protesters occupied crucial city roads.
Allegedly, some protesters reached the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office and engaged in stone-pelting. Police, with the help of BJP workers on-site, dispersed the crowd and restored order. The Bihar Police and Patna Police have uploaded photos of the 117 suspects on their official X accounts to aid in identifying those involved in the disturbance. The investigation is ongoing, and individuals found to have participated in violent or vandalistic activities will face legal consequences.
The release of these photos signifies a significant development in the investigation of the July 22 protest, which has become a contentious political matter in Bihar, with conflicting narratives from the ruling coalition and the opposition regarding the events and subsequent police actions.
