STUDENT RESENTMENT OR A CALCULATED CONSPIRACY

STUDENT RESENTMENT OR A CALCULATED CONSPIRACY

15-JUNE-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-------------------------Patna, the capital of Bihar, is once again in the spotlight due to student protests and unrest. The situation at Pataliputra railway station deteriorated on Sunday morning when a section of the crowd—comprising candidates heading to take the Prohibition Department's constable recruitment exam—turned violent. Incidents of vandalism, stone-pelting, and the blocking of railway tracks were reported, leaving several police personnel, including Rail IG Jitendra Rana, injured.

Initially, the unrest was attributed to anxiety over potentially missing the exam start time, but the police no longer view the entire incident merely as a case of student frustration. Officials suspect that anti-social elements exploited the crowd of students to incite trouble. Given the recent rise in student protests in Bihar and controversies involving Khan Sir, this incident is also being viewed within that broader context.

According to the administration, the tension at the station did not begin on Sunday morning; officials had received information late Saturday night that certain individuals were attempting to incite the crowd within the station premises. Although the police arrived and tried to reason with the people, some groups persisted in maintaining an atmosphere of protest.

The district administration claims that two special trains had been arranged beforehand to facilitate the students' travel to the exam centers. Despite this, confusion and chaos prevailed at the station. Officials state that some individuals deliberately spread rumors to create anxiety among the students. Preliminary investigations by the railway police revealed that certain people repeatedly pulled the emergency chain to halt trains. This disrupted train operations and heightened fears among the large number of candidates that they might miss the exam. Amidst this, many students were told they would not be able to reach their exam centers on time.

By morning, a massive crowd had gathered at the station. Amidst train delays and the spread of rumors, a large number of students descended onto the railway tracks. As a result, the movement of several key trains was disrupted, and the situation rapidly began to spiral out of control.

Railway IG Jitendra Rana personally arrived at the scene to bring the situation under control. He spoke to the students and appealed to them to clear the tracks. According to police officials, the atmosphere appeared to be calming down during the dialogue, but suddenly, some individuals began pelting stones. Six police personnel, including the IG, were injured in the attack.

Police officials believe that the sudden, large-scale stone-pelting suggests premeditation by certain individuals. Investigative agencies are working to identify the instigators within the crowd and determine their motives.

Student-led protests have frequently made headlines in Bihar recently. From demonstrations by BPSC aspirants to recent controversies involving 'Khan Sir' and his coaching institute, large numbers of students have taken to the streets on multiple occasions. The incident at Pataliputra Station has reignited the debate over how grievances regarding competitive exams and recruitment processes are escalating into major protests.

In recent months, Khan Sir has openly supported aspirants during various student protests; his name also featured prominently during the BPSC aspirants' demonstrations. However, neither the police nor the administration has confirmed any direct link between the violence at Pataliputra Station and Khan Sir. Nevertheless, the two incidents are being compared due to the common themes of student politics and issues surrounding competitive examinations. People are also questioning why Khan Sir has not yet commented on this matter, given his history of being vocal about student-related issues.

The police are also drawing parallels between this incident and the 2022 'Agniveer' protests. During that time, too, railway property was targeted, and train services were disrupted. Officials believe that certain groups may be attempting to incite unrest by exploiting the genuine grievances of students.

The Railway Police have registered an FIR against six named individuals and approximately 500 unidentified persons in connection with this incident. Several suspects have been detained and are being interrogated. The police state that further arrests could be made based on video footage and other evidence.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the entire matter. Several senior officers have been included in the team. Footage from CCTV cameras installed at the station premises and in the surrounding areas is being scrutinized. Additionally, videos that have gone viral on social media and mobile phone footage recorded by eyewitnesses are being examined. Investigative agencies are focusing on identifying those who played a role in inciting the mob and instigating violence. The police have stated that no one who disrupts law and order under the guise of being a student will be spared.

Six police personnel, including Railway IG Jitendra Rana, sustained injuries due to stone-pelting. All of them were sent to Danapur Sub-divisional Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment.