Gunshots & campus scuffle mark PUSU polls; turnout drops to 37%

Patna: Elections to the Patna University Students’ Union (PUSU) for 2015-26 were largely peaceful on Saturday, barring an incident of firing at Patna Science College and a tense scene involving a presidential candidate at Patna College. Voter turnout remained low, with only 37.84% of the electorate exercising their franchise in an otherwise politically surcharged contest.

Gunshots were fired during polling at Patna Science College around 12.55pm, triggering panic on the campus. Police rushed to the spot and recovered an empty shell casing. According to eyewitnesses, a gunman arrived on a motorcycle, fired two shots in the air and fled, creating panic among students. No one was injured.

Town DSP Rajesh Ranjan said, “A bike-borne miscreant fired shots on the campus and an empty shell was recovered. An FIR has been registered, and CCTV footage is being examined identify those involved in the firing. No arrests have been made so far. Preliminary findings suggest the firing was likely carried out by a student group to intimidate rivals. Except for this episode, polling at other booths remained peaceful.”

Police said the firing appeared to be aimed at intimidating voters and disrupting the election process. Investigators have launched a search for the miscreants with the help of forensic experts and CCTV footage.

Earlier, tension prevailed when police detained independent presidential candidate Rinkle Yadav from the Patna College campus for allegedly creating a disturbance over an error in his name on the ballot paper. He reportedly entered a polling booth and tore ballot papers before police personnel forcibly took him to Pirbahore police station.

His detention triggered protests by supporters, who gathered outside the police station, raised slogans and demanded his release. When police attempted to escort him to the vice-chancellor’s office, agitated students lay down at the entrance to block the way. A scuffle followed between police personnel and students, escalating the tension. He was later released.

Supporters alleged that while his nomination papers listed his name as ‘Rinkle Yadav’, the ballot papers mentioned ‘Rinkle Kumar’, raising doubts about possible irregularities in the election process. Authorities have not issued an official statement on the alleged name mismatch.

On allegations of bogus voting, DSP Ranjan said no such case was detected. Polling agents of all candidates were present at booths and no formal complaints identifying fake voters were received.

Polling began at 8.30am and concluded at 2.30pm under heavy security deployment. Around 100 police personnel were stationed across the university and its constituent colleges, with additional forces mobilised from Gandhi Maidan, Kadamkuan and nearby police stations.

Out of nearly 20,000 eligible voters, only 7,577 cast their votes. The turnout was significantly lower than last year’s 45.21%. A senior academic said many students had left for their native places ahead of the Holi festival despite the university offering full attendance to those who voted.

PUSU chief returning officer Shankar Kumar said the highest turnout was recorded at Patna Women’s College (59%) and Patna Law College (50.66%), while Patna Training College (21.2%) and Magadh Mahila College (21.72%) recorded the lowest turnout.

“I have never voted in any election so far and so I am quite excited to cast my vote in the students’ union election,” said Mamta Kumari, an undergraduate student of Magadh Mahila College.

Shyamal Gupta, a postgraduate commerce student, said he voted for candidates whom he considered the best among the lot and capable of raising students’ grievances before the university authorities.

Polling was held for five key posts — president, vice-president, general secretary, joint secretary and treasurer — besides council members. Counting of votes for the five key offices began after 5 pm at College of Arts and Crafts under tight security arrangements, while counting for council membership was carried out at the respective polling centres. Results were expected late on Saturday night, the chief election officer said.