Constable aspirants breach barricades, police charge batons to disperse them

Patna: Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse a group of constable aspirants protesting near Kotwali police station in Patna on Monday. They were demanding the announcement of the exam date and the total number of vacancies for the Bihar Police constable recruitment. Undeterred by the police action, many protestors shouted slogans against the state govt and broke through police barricades at JP Golambar and Dak Bungalow Crossing.Carrying national flags, placards, and posters, the protestors began their march from Patna College, and was heading towards the restricted area near Kotwali police station, with the intent to ‘gherao’ the CM’s residence and demand swift action on the delayed recruitment process.“The protesters disrupted traffic and refused to leave despite several pleas, leading police to use baton to disperse them. A large number of protesters assembled at Dak Bungalow crossing, and caused traffic disruptions. They also broke through police barricades put up at different places and entered the restricted zone,” said Kartikeya K Sharma, SSP of Patna.DSP (law and order) I, Krishna Murari Prasad, said no one was detained or arrested, but the Kotwali police will register FIR against the protestors for unlawful gathering, traffic disruption, and instigating law and order issues.After about four hours of uproar, the police cleared the Dak Bungalow crossing at 3pm. However, the protesters claimed that several of them were injured in the police action.Students were demanding that the Bihar Police Sub-Ordinate Service Commission (BPSSC) and the Central Selection Board of Constable (CSBC) release the answer key of the exams.Khusbu Pathak, a protester standing atop barricades, told reporters, “The BPSSC and CSBC must provide the answer key's carbon copy. The notification for Bihar inspector recruitment should be released before the elections. Students have repeatedly spoken out against injustice, but the administration has taken no action. That's why we are protesting. Our protest is peaceful, and we humbly urge the govt to meet our demands.”Roshan Anand, who was leading the protest, was taken into custody by the police and made to sit in the car. After which, the protestors surrounded the vehicle and sat in front of it. To calm the situation, the police released Anand. The youth said, “There has been no vacancy for the last two years. Our demand is that transparency should be brought in the constable recruitment exam.”Dilip Kumar, another protestor, said, “The code of conduct will be implemented in the coming weeks, after which the possibility of new recruitment will almost end. In such a situation, the govt should immediately release the vacancy for constable recruitment.”