Daijiworld Media Network - Patna

Patna, Aug 19: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) national working president and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav was detained by police on Wednesday while leading a protest march towards the Lok Bhavan in Patna over alleged police action against students, recurring examination paper leaks and unemployment-related concerns.

Yadav, along with RJD leaders, MLAs, MPs and party workers, had begun the march from JP Golambar. The protesters were heading towards the Lok Bhavan to press their demands and protest the alleged use of force against students during recent demonstrations in the state.

Police detained Yadav near the Income Tax office in Patna and took him away in a police vehicle. Patna SSP Kartikeya K Sharma confirmed that the Leader of Opposition had been detained. RJD Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti and other party leaders were also detained during the protest, according to reports.

The demonstration was organised against what the RJD described as the government's failure to address repeated examination paper leaks, unemployment and concerns over the treatment of protesting students. The party also sought accountability over a recent incident in Siwan in which a police constable allegedly fired an AK-47 during a student protest. The constable was subsequently suspended, while the Bihar government had earlier announced that detained protesters would be released and cases related to the agitation withdrawn.

As the march progressed, police deployed water cannons to disperse the protesters. Reports said demonstrators broke through police barricades, following which the confrontation intensified. Some protesters climbed onto the vehicle carrying Yadav and other detained leaders after police moved them away from the protest site.

Yadav, while being taken into the police vehicle, accused the government of putting the future of students at risk.

“The government is pushing the future of students into darkness. Exam papers are getting leaked frequently,” he said.

The RJD had announced the march after Yadav alleged that Bihar's examination system and law-and-order situation had deteriorated. He had also criticised the alleged lathi-charge and firing during student demonstrations and called for action against those responsible.

The latest protest follows a series of student demonstrations in Bihar over alleged examination irregularities. Earlier, protests linked to the NEET-UG paper leak controversy had witnessed clashes between students and police in several parts of the state, with protesters detained and allegations of excessive police force being raised.

The RJD's Patna march has intensified the political confrontation between the opposition and the Bihar government over student safety, examination transparency, unemployment and alleged police excesses.