Protestors Stone Police During Demonstration; Police Resort to Lathi-Charge and Call in Additional Forces to Control Crowd; DM and SSP Don Protective Gear and Lead Frontline Operation
Bhagalpur, Chief Correspondent: The silk city of Bhagalpur today became the epicenter of political and student anger that has been simmering from the national capital down to various districts of the state. The protest, which had been underway since morning demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister, turned completely violent and uncontrollable by afternoon. A fierce clash erupted between aggressive protestors and police forces at the city's major intersections. The situation deteriorated to such an extent that the agitated mob, defying law and order, began pelting stones heavily at the police force. This sudden incident of stone-pelting caused panic within the police department, resulting in injuries to several police personnel. Taking immediate cognizance of the gravity of the situation and the escalating tension in the city, the district administration took swift action by lathi-charging the crowd and immediately summoning additional police forces to the spot. Most notably, the District Magistrate (DM) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) themselves donned safety gear (helmets and protective jackets), took direct charge, and stepped onto the streets to assess the situation firsthand.
How Did the Violence Erupt and What Were the Demands of the Protestors?
According to details received, during the peaceful protest running for the past few hours, the atmosphere suddenly heated up when some unruly elements attempted to break police barricades and forcefully enter restricted zones.
When police tried to stop them, the crowd intensified their slogans, and within moments, the protest transformed into a violent clash.
The protestors were demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister, a high-level probe into alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, and paper leak cases.
They alleged that the administration was trying to suppress their voices, which triggered the crowd's anger, leading them to target police personnel.
Stone-Pelting Turns Area into Battleground, Police Resort to Lathi-Charge
The areas surrounding Tilka Manjhi and Manali Chowk transformed into a battleground within moments. Miscreants began a barrage of bricks and stone fragments targeting the police force from both sides of the street.
Police Retaliation: Witnessing the stone-pelting directed at them and the worsening situation, the police decided to use force in self-defense and to restore law and order.
Lathi-Charge and Tear Gas: To disperse the crowd, the police conducted a mild lathi-charge and began driving away the aggressive protestors. During this, police also deployed tear gas shells to control the mob, spreading smoke across the entire area and creating a stampede-like situation.
DM and SSP Don Protective Gear, Take Direct Command
When the situation appeared to slip beyond the control of local police officials, top district administration officials decided to take to the field themselves. Bhagalpur's District Magistrate (DM) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) immediately donned protective gear (helmets, body armor) and reached the violence-affected zone directly with a convoy of riot control vehicles.
Foot March on Streets: Both senior officials, equipped with lathis and protective gear, personally marched on foot across the streets and issued a stern warning to the troublemakers.
Strict Action Directives Against Lawbreakers: Right from the spot, the SSP issued clear directives to police officers to identify individuals who pelted stones at the police and damaged public property through CCTV footage, and to take immediate, strict legal action leading to their arrests.
Deployment of Additional Forces and High Alert in City
Following this incident of violence, an atmosphere of terror and tension has gripped the entire Bhagalpur city. As a precautionary measure, a massive deployment of additional police forces, Rapid Action Force (RAF), and Bihar Police personnel has been made across all sensitive intersections, markets, and vulnerable zones of the city. The district administration has appealed to citizens to ignore rumors and maintain peace. Police patrolling is ongoing, and a close watch is being kept on the situation.
This violent protest in Bhagalpur demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister and the incident of stone-pelting at the police has emerged as a grave challenge from an administrative and security perspective. The DM and SSP personally donning protective gear to lead the operation underscores how seriously the administration views this incident. At present, the situation is under control, though a tense calm prevails in the city while police conduct continuous raids to round up the miscreants.
