STUDNETS WENT ON RAMPAGE AT PATLIPUTRA RAILWAY STATION

STUDNETS WENT ON RAMPAGE AT PATLIPUTRA RAILWAY STATION

14-JUNE-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA------------------------Students were infuriated by train delays on the day of the exam and staged a protest by sitting on the railway tracks. When the police arrived to clear the tracks, the students pelted stones, injuring several police personnel.

A massive commotion broke out among students on Sunday morning at the Danapur-Patliputra Railway Station in Bihar. The students were en route to their exam centers but became frustrated due to train delays. The angry students created a major disturbance at both the Danapur and Patliputra stations. Police personnel sustained injuries during the ensuing stone-pelting. The incident occurred amidst a scheduled police recruitment exam (for the Prohibition Department). Thousands of students had gathered at Patliputra Railway Station to travel to their exam centers, but the train was delayed. Angered by this, the students sat on the tracks and began shouting slogans. The situation escalated as the students' anger boiled over; they engaged in widespread vandalism on the platform and resorted to heavy stone-pelting. Chaos prevailed at Pataliputra Railway Station for hours, leaving several station house officers—including IG Jitendra Rana—injured.

Students state that no train arrangements were made for the candidates, causing... Most students are unable to reach the examination centers on time; therefore, the exam should be cancelled. Patna DM Dr. Tyagarajan stated, "Around midnight, we received information that some people were creating a disturbance. We repeatedly asked them not to cause trouble and to cooperate with those wishing to take the exam. However, certain anti-social elements repeatedly pulled the emergency chain and raised various demands—such as a request for special trains, even though two special trains were already available. They also obstructed students who wanted to leave. Due to these issues, we had to use mild force. The situation is now completely normal, and the trains have departed. The trains designated for the examinees have already left, and train operations are proceeding normally."

The IG (Railways) reported that the Seemanchal and Madhubani special trains had arrived; they were scheduled to proceed towards Darbhanga and Araria. At the last minute—around 12:45 AM—a group of 300 to 400 individuals, appearing to be students, arrived. It seemed their objective was to disrupt others. They demanded a special train. The Railways announced that a special train would be provided within an hour. Meanwhile, these individuals stopped a goods train, which caused a delay in the arrival of the special train. The special train arrived at 2:10 AM. The DGP instructed that they be told to board this train, assuring them that if they missed the exam, rescheduling or other options would be provided. We stated that they would be transported to Araria in four and a half hours, but they were unwilling to listen to anything. It appeared they were determined to sabotage the exam. Whether or not they were actual students is a matter for investigation, but the persistent demands to call off the test suggested a clear intent to get the exam cancelled. The Central Selection Board (Constable Recruitment) is conducting written examinations from June 14 to June 17 for a total of 4,128 posts, comprising Prohibition Constables, Warders, and Mobile Squad Constables. The exams cover 2,417 posts for Warders, 1,603 for Prohibition Constables, and 108 for Mobile Squad Constables. Trains arriving for students scheduled for the second shift are heavily overcrowded.

The recruitment exam for Prohibition Constables is being held in two shifts. The first shift runs from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, while the second shift is from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. However, the reporting time for the first shift is between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM. Consequently, students scheduled for the first shift were unable to reach their exam centers on time. This led to a massive uproar by students at the railway station. A female student bound for Khagaria stated that students unable to board the train due to the overcrowding prevented it from moving forward; they stood in front of the engine and began pelting stones. The students' intent was that if they missed their exam, others should not be able to take it either, effectively leading to the cancellation of the examination.

On Sunday morning, stones and shards of broken glass were visible everywhere at the Patliputra Railway Station. Angered by the train delays, students sat on the railway tracks and created a disturbance. They even climbed onto an electric engine and smashed its windshield. Police officials attempted to reason with them but were met with stone-pelting. Although the situation appeared normal by morning, the condition of the railway station gave an idea of ​​the intensity of the chaos that had unfolded during the night.