Patna Police Launch Identification Drive Following Student Protest Violence
Major Identification Initiative by Patna Police
A screengrab image of student protest in Bihar(Source: @sauravspeakss/X)
Patna, July 24: In response to the violence that erupted during a student protest regarding the alleged NEET paper leak on July 22, the Patna Police have initiated a significant identification campaign.
Authorities have shared images of 117 individuals believed to be involved in stone-pelting and other violent actions on the social media platform X, appealing to the public for assistance in identifying these suspects.
The protest aimed to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to the alleged NEET paper leak, with thousands of students marching from Gandhi Maidan towards the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
During the demonstration, a portion of the crowd reportedly became violent, leading to incidents of stone-pelting directed at police officers and media personnel.
According to police reports, the photographs released were taken during the protest and are part of an ongoing investigation to pinpoint those involved in the violence. Legal actions will be pursued against the identified individuals once their identities are confirmed.
Initially, police attempted to manage the escalating situation with water cannons, but as the protesters continued to advance, they resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.
Authorities noted that controlling the large assembly was difficult, as thousands of demonstrators occupied critical roads throughout the city.
During the chaos, some protesters allegedly targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office, resulting in stone-pelting. Police, aided by BJP workers in the vicinity, managed to disperse the crowd and restore order.
In the aftermath, both the Bihar Police and Patna Police posted the photographs of the 117 suspects on their official X accounts to aid in identifying those involved in the unrest.
Police officials confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that all individuals identified as having engaged in violent or vandalistic behavior will face legal consequences as per the law.
The release of these photographs represents a crucial development in the investigation surrounding the July 22 protest, which has escalated into a significant political issue in Bihar, with contrasting narratives emerging from both the ruling coalition and the opposition regarding the events and subsequent police actions.