Hundreds of students from Patna University participated in a protest march on Monday, highlighting strong support for recent regulations introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and expressing dissatisfaction with legal developments around those rules. The protest took place from Patna College to Gandhi Maidan, resulting in tense encounters between demonstrators and police officers.
Students marched through city streets chanting slogans and carrying placards that called for the implementation of the new UGC regulations. Authorities had erected barricades near JP Golambar to halt the procession, but several protesters climbed and eventually broke through the police lines as tensions escalated.
In response to the breach of barricades and the growing crowd, police deployed water cannon vehicles to control the situation, and officers made multiple detentions to contain the protest. Traffic around Gandhi Maidan was disrupted for several hours as the march continued and authorities worked to restore order.
Student leaders said the protest was organised to demonstrate support for the UGC’s attempt to address discrimination in higher education institutions. They emphasised that they would not withdraw their march until the contested regulations are properly enforced.
Administration officials maintained that security measures were aimed at ensuring public safety and preventing damage to infrastructure. They appealed to students to respect public order and engage through institutional channels.
The demonstration reflects deepening debate over higher education policy and the role of regulatory frameworks in addressing long-standing inequalities. © Images used for illustrative purposes only.
