Patna witnessed a major protest by government-job aspirants on September 15 as students took to the streets demanding action over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
The protest began around Gandhi Maidan and moved towards JP Golambar, with students attempting to march further towards the state Assembly and the Chief Minister’s residence.
At the centre of the protest was the Bihar Police Sub-Inspector recruitment examination for 1,799 posts. Aspirants alleged irregularities in the examination process and demanded that the exam be cancelled and conducted again in a transparent manner.
The protesters also raised concerns over the 70th BPSC examination and demanded its cancellation and re-conduct. They called for a fair investigation into the allegations and greater transparency in competitive examinations.
The protest led to tense scenes at several locations. Police barricades were breached at some points, and there were instances of pushing and confrontation between protesters and police. Police detained more than 25 protesters, according to the Patna SSP. Traffic movement was also affected on several major roads.
Apart from the Daroga and BPSC examinations, students demanded that pending BSSC examinations be conducted without further delay. They also called for an annual recruitment calendar so that candidates have a clear timeline for upcoming government examinations.
The allegations surrounding the Daroga examination are currently being investigated by the Economic Offences Unit (EOU). The allegations have not, by themselves, established that the entire examination was compromised.
For thousands of aspirants preparing for government jobs, the issue is about more than one examination. They are demanding a recruitment system that provides
Patna’s streets once again became the centre of a major student protest. Aspirants are demanding answers, transparency and a fresh opportunity if irregularities are established. As the investigation continues, the biggest question now is — what action will authorities take next?
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