A protest organised by the All India Students’ Association (AISA) against the alleged NEET paper leak turned violent in Patna on Wednesday, prompting police to use tear gas, water cannons, and baton charges to disperse the crowd.
Hundreds of students marched towards Raj Bhavan, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the controversy. The clash erupted near JP Golambar, close to Gandhi Maidan, about three kilometres from the Governor’s residence, where police had set up multiple barricades and deployed heavy security.
According to reports, police repeatedly appealed to the students to disperse peacefully. However, some protesters allegedly attempted to break through the barricades, leading to a confrontation. As tensions escalated, police resorted to baton charges, fired tear gas shells, and used water cannons to push back the crowd.
The sudden escalation created chaos at the protest site, with students scattering as police intensified their action. The incident has drawn sharp reactions from student groups, who accuse the government of failing to ensure transparency in examinations and of suppressing dissent.
