Protest marches and dharna were witnessed in several districts of Bihar on Friday (July 24, 2026) by the students and locals demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged NEET paper leak.
Protesters holding banners, posters and placards carried out the protest marches in Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Khagaria, Darbhanga, Bettiah (West Champaran), Supaul, Jamui, Samastipur, Madhubani and Buxar. In Vaishali, the protesters burnt the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dharmendra Pradhan.
Last evening, in Jehanabad, police had to open 20 to 30 rounds of fire after protesters pelted stones on the official residence of the District Magistrate. Jehanabad SP office on July 24, 2026, released the photographs of over a hundred protesters urging locals to identify them so that legal action could be taken against them.
Jehanabad SP Kota Kiran Kumar today carried out a flag march along with 300 police jawans in view of the ongoing security challenges and protests in the State. Mr. Kumar asserted that the police are on high alert to maintain peace and public safety. He added that police from all stations in the district are continuously patrolling major intersections.
Patna police has also published the photograph of over 100 miscreants who vandalised public properties and beat up police and press personnel.
“On July 22, 2026, during the demonstrations that took place in Gandhi Maidan and the Income Tax Circle areas of Patna district, some unruly elements attacked the police force. Police vehicles were damaged. Ordinary citizens and media personnel were also assaulted with sticks, batons, bricks, and stones, “a press statement from the office of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Patna stated.
It further said, “Through social media, such miscreants are being identified, and their photos/pictures are being published. Please assist the Patna Police in identifying these unruly elements. Identify the individuals according to the serial number of the photo and provide this information to the Patna Police at 0612-2217000, 9939919191, so that legal action can be taken against them.”
Heavy deployment of the police force has been done in all districts of Bihar after All India Students’ Association (AISA) called for a Bihar Bandh on July 25, 2026, against police lathi-charge on the students in Patna on July 22.
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Bihar State Secretary Kunal has strongly condemned the police lathi-charge, firing and arrests of the students protesting against alleged NEET paper leak across various districts of Bihar, stating that such suppression of democratic rights is a matter of grave concern for any democratic system.
He noted that police action has been taken against peaceful student protests in 18 districts of Bihar so far, making it clear that the government is choosing the path of repression instead of acknowledging its failures.
Mr. Kunal asserted that AISA State Secretary Dipankar Mishra and State Vice-President Saba Afrin have been arrested by the police in Patna and there has been no information regarding their whereabouts.
“It is a blatant violation of the rule of law and civil rights. The police must immediately share the details of their arrest and release them unconditionally, along with all other arrested students,”Mr. Kunal said.
He mentioned that fabricated cases have been filed against several AISA leaders and activists, including CPI(ML) MLC Shashi Yadav and MLA Sandeep Saurabh.
He added that the CPI(ML) will extend its moral support to the Bihar Bandh.
“The party appeals to students, youth, parents, and citizens who believe in democracy across the state to support the Bandh. At the same time, the student community is urged to carry forward their movement in a completely peaceful, democratic, and lawful manner so that their voice reaches out to the entire society with greater strength,”Mr. Kunal said
Published – July 25, 2026 04:00 am IST
