Bihar: Police Exam Aspirants' Protest at Patliputra Station Turns Violent

A significant protest erupted at Patliputra Railway Station in Patna, Bihar, during the late hours of Saturday, June 13, 2026, and continued into the early morning of Sunday, June 14, 2026. The unrest involved thousands of candidates appearing for the Bihar Police Prohibition Department recruitment examination who were agitated over what they claimed were insufficient train arrangements to reach their respective examination centres. The protest quickly escalated into violence, with reports of stone-pelting and vandalism. Protesters blocked railway tracks, disrupting train movement for several hours and affecting services, including the Rajdhani Express. An examination special train was reportedly vandalized, with witnesses describing extensive damage inside coaches and shops in the vicinity also being smashed. Eyewitnesses recounted the students' extreme agitation, stating that thousands had gathered but could not board trains due to overcrowding and delays. Some protesters also allegedly pulled emergency chains to halt trains and demanded the cancellation of the examination. In response to the escalating situation, a heavy contingent of police personnel, including the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP), was deployed to the station. Authorities attempted to persuade the protesters to clear the tracks and restore order, but when appeals failed, police resorted to using 'mild force,' tear gas shells, baton charges, and even firing warning shots in the air to disperse the aggressive crowd. During the clashes, several police officers and personnel, including Inspector General Jitendra Rana, sustained minor injuries from stones pelted by the protesters. Following the police intervention, the crowd was eventually dispersed, and security arrangements at the station were significantly tightened to prevent further disturbances. Patna District Magistrate Dr. Thiyagarajan S.M. and East Central Railways Chief Public Relations Officer Saraswati Chandra stated that adequate special trains had, in fact, been arranged in anticipation of the large number of candidates. They suggested that 'anti-social elements' might have infiltrated the group of genuine aspirants and instigated the violence, taking advantage of the frustration over perceived inadequate arrangements. An investigation has been launched to identify and take action against those responsible for the vandalism and disruption. By Sunday morning, normalcy was largely restored at Patliputra station, and train operations resumed. Officials continued to monitor the situation closely as thousands of candidates were still traveling for the multi-day recruitment examination, which was scheduled to be held from June 14 to June 17. This incident highlights ongoing challenges in managing large-scale public examinations and associated travel logistics in India, particularly when involving significant numbers of job aspirants. The claims of insufficient infrastructure, coupled with official allegations of external instigation, underscore the complex dynamics often at play during such events.

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