AFTER DELHI, STUDENT MARCH IN PATNA, TEAR GAS FIRED, WATER CANNONS USED

AFTER DELHI, STUDENT MARCH IN PATNA, TEAR GAS FIRED, WATER CANNONS USED

22-JULY-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-------------------------AISA organized this protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue; a clash with the police ensued.

A tense situation arose in Patna on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) during an AISA march towards the Raj Bhavan (Lok Bhavan), as a heated clash broke out between protesting students and the police near Gandhi Maidan. For a while, the scenes on the capital's streets mirrored those witnessed recently during the march to the Parliament House in Delhi. Police fired tear gas shells and used water cannons to prevent the protesters from advancing.

According to reports, a large number of students set out from Gandhi Maidan on Wednesday morning for the march to the Raj Bhavan under the AISA banner. The protesters were marching towards the Raj Bhavan to press for various demands. The administration had made extensive security arrangements beforehand, deploying police forces and erecting barricades along the route from Gandhi Maidan to Hotel Maurya.

When the march reached Hotel Maurya near Gandhi Maidan, the police stopped the students from proceeding further. A scuffle broke out between the protesters and the police, which quickly escalated into a clash. Some protesters attempted to move forward by removing the barricades, while the police tried to hold them back. As the situation deteriorated, the police first fired tear gas shells to control the crowd. Subsequently, they attempted to disperse the protesters using high-pressure water cannons. Following the police action, a chaotic scene unfolded briefly, with many students seen running in different directions.

A heavy police force remained deployed in the area during the incident, and traffic was disrupted for some time. The administration states that necessary measures were taken to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident. Meanwhile, the protesting students allege that attempts were made to forcibly halt their peaceful rally. The situation is currently reported to be under control, although security arrangements at the site have been tightened.