Bihar Leader Detained Amid Ongoing Student Protests Over NEET Paper Leak Allegations

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav was detained in Patna while leading a foot march towards Lok Bhavan, demanding 32,000 teacher vacancies under TRE-4 and the implementation of a domicile policy and AK-47 firing during the Siwan students’ protest earlier. The march came a day after the Bihar government transferred Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha as part of a reshuffle involving 18 IPS officers. Jha’s transfer followed violent student protests in Siwan on July 25, during which a policeman was seen firing an AK-47 into the air. Three people sustained bullet injuries and several police personnel, including Jha, were injured during the protest. Police subsequently registered three FIRs based on statements from the injured civilians, while a constable seen using the AK-47 was suspended. However, police maintained that no one was injured in the aerial firing from the assault rifle. According to Jha around eight to 10 rounds were fired during the violence, including four rounds from long-range weapons and three from pistols, while the source of the remaining firing was being investigated. He also said it was unclear whether the three civilians had been injured in police firing. The Siwan protests came amid student agitation over allegations of a NEET paper leak and earlier police action against protesters. The violence had led to clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement personnel.