AISA March in Patna Erupts Into Clash; Police Deploy Tear Gas and Water Cannons

On Wednesday, a massive rally organised by the All India Students’ Association (AISA) set off from Gate No 10 of Gandhi Maidan in Patna, drawing in thousands of students, youth and workers. Their chant‑filled march was aimed squarely at what they called rampant paper leaks, alleged corruption in the examination system and the creeping privatisation of education.

As the procession moved toward Raj Bhavan, police had already erected barricades near JP Golambar. The officers’ intention, they said, was to keep the crowd from reaching the governor’s residence—a move that the demonstrators saw as an attempt to stifle their voice.

When the crowd tried to push forward, tempers flared. A heated exchange turned ugly when a handful of protestors allegedly hurled stones at the police line. In response, law‑enforcement personnel fired tear‑gas shells and unleashed water cannons, hoping to disperse the swelling crowd.

The scene was chaotic: white clouds of tear‑gas mingled with splashing water, while shouting and chanting continued in the background. Heavy police deployment remained in the area for hours, a clear sign that authorities were keen to prevent further escalation.

AISA members later reiterated that the march was meant to highlight the deteriorating state of public education in Bihar and across India. Their demands were extensive: the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Bihar Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari, a fast‑track probe into recent paper leaks, reversal of the 7.5 CGPA eligibility rule, rollback of recent fee hikes, introduction of Non‑NET fellowships for PhD scholars, and protection of institutional autonomy for places like Patna University.

While the police claimed that adequate security arrangements were in place and that they acted only to restore order, the protestors insisted that the heavy‑handed response only underlined the systemic issues they were protesting against.

By evening, the situation had largely come under control, though tension lingered in the streets surrounding Raj Bhavan. No official numbers on arrests or injuries were released immediately, and authorities said they would review the incident and take appropriate action.