The Bihar Police on Sunday lathi-charged and used water cannons to disperse protesting civil service aspirants marching towards Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s home in Patna to demand a re-examination of Bihar Public Service Commission prelims, The Indian Express reported.

Several candidates who appeared for the 70th Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination held on December 13 have been protesting in Patna since December 18, alleging a question paper leak at one of the centres, according to The Hindu.

They have also alleged that CCTV cameras and jammers were not functioning at several examination centres and that question papers were distributed late in some places.

Bihar Public Service Commission Parmar Ravi Manubhai has denied any question paper leaks and stated that the examination was conducted peacefully at 911 out of 912 centres.

So far, the commission has agreed to reschedule the exam only for candidates who appeared at a centre in Patna, where an exam official died of a heart attack.

On Sunday, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor organised a “Youth Congress Samvad” near the Gandhi Maidan in Patna. After speaking with the candidates for nearly four hours, he attempted to march towards the chief minister’s home with them.

The police, however, had put up barricades on the roads leading up to Kumar’s residence. The protestors broke through two barricades, leading to a scuffle with the police, reported India Today.

“The protesters gathered at Gandhi Maidan despite the administration’s warning that any demonstration there would be considered unauthorised,” District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh told PTI.

He added that a first information report had been registered against 21 persons, including Kishor his party president Manoj Bharti and city-based tutor Ramanshu Mishra for organising a gathering of the candidates. Nearly 600 unidentified persons have also been booked.

Authorities have also arrested two Patna-based tutors for allegedly provoking the students. They are, however, out on conditional bail over ill health.

The Patna administration had reportedly suggested that the protesting candidates appoint a delegation of five persons to meet Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena and discuss the issue. However, the protesters were divided on whether to accept the offer.

Police’s actions inhumane, says Oppostion

Opposition leaders on Sunday questioned the Bihar Police for using force against protesting civil aspirants, and said its actions amounted to an attack on democracy.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said it was “inhumane” for the police to baton-charge protestors and use water cannons against them in severely cold weather.

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal alleged that BJP-led governments across the country wanted to “suppress every voice of protest with lathis”.

“Lathicharge on peacefully protesting students is a direct attack against democracy,” he wrote on X.

Independent MP from Purnia Pappu Yadav on Monday said he met Bihar governor and discussed the protests with him, reported ANI.

“He [the governor] spoke directly to the BPSC chairman,” he said. “He said he would also talk to the [district magistrate and superintendent of police] to find out on what basis they used lathi and filed an FIR,” Pappu Yadav was quoted as saying by ANI. “He has also said that he will personally speak to the chief minister.”

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashvi Yadav said that videos of the police action should shock the public conscience.

“Can the police beat the son of a leader or an officer like this?” he asked in a video statement on Sunday.

In a veiled reference to Prashant Kishor, Tejashvi Yadav said that the BJP “planted its B-team” as part of a conspiracy to end the protests.