RJD’s Raj Bhavan march turns tense in Patna as protesters try to break through barricades

Patna, Aug 19 (IANS) A confrontation broke out between police and RJD workers in Patna on Wednesday as the party activists and leaders attempted to march towards Raj Bhavan over various issues, including student grievances, unemployment, alleged examination irregularities and the Siwan AK-47 firing controversy.

Patna, Aug 19 (IANS) A confrontation broke out between police and RJD workers in Patna on Wednesday as the party activists and leaders attempted to march towards Raj Bhavan over various issues, including student grievances, unemployment, alleged examination irregularities and the Siwan AK-47 firing controversy.

The Patna Police had earlier erected barricades along the route from JP Golambar towards Dak Bungalow Crossing to stop the protesters from proceeding further.

When demonstrators attempted to remove or cross the barricades, scuffles broke out between the protesters and police.

As tensions escalated, police deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd.

Protesters, meanwhile, continued raising slogans against the Bihar government and police while carrying the Tricolour and posters supporting students.

The situation became particularly tense around Income Tax Golambar, where police detained the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, as he attempted to move ahead with the march.

Several other protesters were subsequently detained and taken away in buses. RJD MP from Buxar, Sudhakar Singh, was also taken into custody.

The RJD workers arriving from different districts participated in the demonstration. Some protesters carried toy replicas of AK-47 rifles as a symbolic reference to the Siwan firing controversy.

Posters carried messages opposing the alleged use of firearms against students.

RJD Rajya Sabha member Manoj Kumar Jha said the protest reflected growing frustration among students and young people over unemployment and recurring examination-related controversies.

The party also raised concerns over alleged paper leaks and recruitment issues.

Security arrangements had been strengthened across Patna ahead of the march.

A substantial police deployment was positioned along the protest route, with senior officials, including Patna Inspector General Jitendra Rana, monitoring the situation.

Police had been instructed to maintain law and order and avoid using force without authorisation from senior officers.

The march has intensified the political confrontation between the RJD and the Bihar government, with Tejashwi Yadav alleging that the administration was attempting to suppress the opposition’s protest.

–IANS

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