Bihar Police Use Lathi-Charge on Bharat Bandh Protesters Blocking Traffic

The Bihar Police on Wednesday used batons and water cannons to disperse protesters who had blocked rail and road traffic in support of the Bharat Bandh over community-based reservations. The protests disrupted train services at Darbhanga and Buxar railway stations and blocked roads in Patna, Hajipur, Darbhanga, Jehanabad, Purnea, Katihar, Muzaffarpur, and Begusarai districts.

In Patna, police baton-charged a crowd blocking the road at Dak Bungalow Chowk. During this action, a policeman inadvertently hit the Sadar-Patna Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), who was leading the force. The Patna District Administration later clarified that no disciplinary action would be taken against the policeman involved in the incident.

Protests Across Multiple Districts

Protesters in Jehanabad clashed with security personnel on National Highway-83 near Unta Chowk, resulting in the detention of five individuals. In other districts like Madhepura, Muzaffarpur, Saran, Begusarai, Hajipur, Purnea, and Katihar, demonstrators attempted to block traffic and burned tyres but were quickly dispersed by security forces.

At Darbhanga and Buxar railway stations, large groups of protesters halted the Bihar Sampark Kranti and Farakka Express trains. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and district police were deployed to manage the situation. East Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Sharswati Chandra confirmed that train services were disrupted in Ara, Chausa Buxar, Darbhanga, Begusarai, and Rajgir but were promptly controlled.

Arrests and Releases

Patna police registered three FIRs and arrested 46 people for allegedly taking the law into their hands during the protests. Later, 35 of them were released. Independent Lok Sabha MP Rajesh Ranjan, also known as Pappu Yadav, led demonstrations in Patna and other areas. He criticised the NDA government's stance on SC/ST reservations.

Talking to reporters in Purnea, Yadav said: "The NDA government at the Centre is against reservation to SC/ST and other extremely backward classes. The Centre wants to snatch reservations given to SC/ST and other extremely backward classes."

Political Reactions

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other partners of the INDIA bloc extended their support to the bandh. The Bharat Bandh was called by 21 organisations across the country in response to the Supreme Court's August 1 ruling allowing states to sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for granting quotas within these groups.

In Katihar, protesters surrounded District Magistrate Manesh Kumar Meena's vehicle when he arrived at his office in the morning. Security personnel quickly removed them from the scene. Crowds also disrupted train movements at Ara, Chausa Buxar, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Khagaria, East Champaran, Samastipur, Munger, and Rajgir in the morning.

The Supreme Court's majority verdict held that such sub-classifications are permissible to benefit more underprivileged castes within these categories.