Janata Dal (U) MLA Gopal Mandal defended the police lathi charge on students protesting, saying it is appropriate because it is one of the ways the state apparatus is putting a stop to the agitation. He was speaking after police lathi-charged students in Patna over a Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) exam paper leak, news agency ANI reported on Saturday.
The JD (U) MLA told ANI, "It's bound to happen. Students must have staged violent demonstrations, so they were lathi-charged. Lathi-Charge, throwing plastic bullets, and spraying water canons are the few ways in which the state curbs the protest. Lathi-charge keeps happening. If the students keep on doing such protests, the examinations should be cancelled."
He added, "Now if someone abuses me or pushes me, my people will risk their lives to protect me. Similarly, if students create such situations, lathi-charge toh hoga hi. (will happen)"
Bihar Police used lathi charge on Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) candidates who were protesting against the state government over the paper leak in Patna on Wednesday. The paper leak occurred during a BSSC clerk-level written examination. After the paper was leaked, students demanded that the exam be cancelled.
Previously, the preliminary examination question paper of the Bihar Public Service Commission was leaked, and the examination was cancelled.
Examination paper leaks are not new in Bihar; in recent years, the state has garnered multiple headlines as a result of similar events. Here are a few examples of examinations that have made headlines owing to question paper leaks prior to the exam:
BPSC: The 67th preliminary examination of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) had to be postponed due to a paper leak. More than 6 lakh people had applied for this exam, however, the paper was leaked moments before it began. The exam has been cancelled by the commission, and a new date will be provided later. It had formed a committee and ordered an investigation into the incident.
Bihar Board Exam: The class 10 maths paper from the Bihar board exam was leaked. It had gone popular on social media just before the start of the exam, which had to be postponed. It was rescheduled with a fresh question paper.
Bihar Fire Service Agnik Exam: The paper for the Bihar Fire Service Agnik recruitment examination held in March 2021 has been leaked.
Bihar Police Exam: Before the exam, the Bihar police constable recruitment exam paper went viral on social media in January. However, the government later termed it a hoax, and no real question paper was leaked.
(With Inputs From Agencies)