Bihar NEET Protests Turn Violent: Stone Pelting, Baton Charge in Multiple Districts

Protests over the alleged leak of the NEET examination paper and demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan continued across several districts of Bihar on Thursday (July 23, 2026). What began as peaceful demonstrations in many places turned violent in Katihar, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, and Darbhanga, with reports of stone pelting and police baton charges.

In Katihar, a protest escalated when some demonstrators attempted to break the main gate of the District Magistrate (DM) office. Police intervened, leading to a scuffle. Additional forces were deployed, and the area was heavily secured. District Magistrate Ashutosh Dwivedi and Superintendent of Police Parichay Kumar conducted a flag march to restore order. Several individuals, including police personnel and protesters, sustained injuries during the clashes.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Dwivedi appealed for calm, stating, “There is a constitutional way for any protest, and demands can be put forward properly. However, those who take the law into their own hands and vandalise public property will face strict action. I appeal to all students not to engage in illegal activities.” He added that anti-social elements believed to be involved in stone pelting were being identified through police photography and videography.

In Begusarai, protesters climbed the gate of the DM office and tried to enter. Police requested them to step down, but when they refused, officers resorted to baton charges to disperse the crowd, resulting in injuries to several demonstrators.

In Bhagalpur and Darbhanga, similar incidents of stone pelting occurred. Senior officials, including Darbhanga Deputy Inspector General of Police Manoj Tiwari, DM Kaushal Kumar, and Senior Superintendent of Police Jagunath Reddy, visited the sites to manage the situation.

Peaceful protests were also reported in Patna, Munger, Sheikhpura, and Vaishali. In Patna, demonstrators blocked roads, insisting that Mr. Pradhan take moral responsibility for the alleged leak and resign. The Bihar Police have registered multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) against more than 600 unidentified individuals for vandalising public property during Wednesday’s protest march, in which several police personnel were injured. Over 40 students have been detained in Patna alone.

Support for the student movement came from organisations such as the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA), which staged a protest in Patna expressing solidarity with students at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. AIPWA National General Secretary Meena Tiwari criticised the police conduct during the lathi-charge at Jantar Mantar, calling it misconduct towards women. National Vice President Manju Prakash alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party government protects rapists while unleashing violence on protesting students and women, describing it as shameful.