Protesters clash with police in Bihar amid call for statewide bandh, Tej Pratap detained in Patna

Protesters clashed with police in several districts of Bihar, including capital Patna and Chapra, as the protests against the NEET paper leak expanded to a nationwide protest. Clashes also broke out between the police personnel and protesters in at least three districts: Patna, Aurangabad, and Chapra.

Janshakthi Janta Dal (JJD) chief Tej Pratap Yadav was detained in Patna after he joined the protesters who had gathered in support of the statewide bandh over NEET paper leak, and police action on protesting students over the past few days, PTI reported.

Yadav joined protesters during a sit-in protest at Ram Gulam Chowk in Patna, from where he was taken away in a police vehicle. Clinging to the vehicle door, Yadav said, "We are standing shoulder to shoulder with the students.

If need be, I am willing to die for the students' rights." Left-wing protesters carrying banners of All India Students Association (AISA) and Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA) blocked the Samastipur-Patna main road by burning tyres and raising slogans against the government, PTI reported.

Visuals shared by news agency ANI showed damaged police vehicles. They also showed miscreants attacking cars, stone-pelting civilians, and lathicharging police personnel in Chapra, Patna, and Aurangabad. In Bihar's Siwan district, AISA, RYA and other left-wing organisations also staged protests at JP Chowk against police action on students on July 22, it added.

Visuals of police vehicles being vandalised and toppled in Patna circulated over social media, according to ANI. The police personnel also used tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. #WATCH | Patna, Bihar: A clash erupts between the police and protestors after the call for a statewide shutdown today over the NEET paper leak issue and Police action during student protests in the state.

Heavy police force was deployed in the area during the protest. They are… pic.twitter.com/fDL6GFr7rR Former MLA and CPI(ML) leader Amarjeet Kushwaha, present during the protest, told PTI, "Protest has been underway at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for the last 26 days.

Students also came out on the streets of Patna on Wednesday. However, both in Delhi and in Patna, they faced brutal police action. Even women and girls were not spared." He alleged that the government has adopted a dictatorial approach towards handling protests, according to the report.

Meanwhile, speaking to the reporters today, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Patna, Raj Kishore, said, "People have come from outside as well, and we have caught those who pelted stones…" Protesters also pelted stones and bricks at police personnel at Dak Bungalow Chouraha in Patna, following which police detained several students, according to PTI reports.

"Protesters pelted stones at us. They even tried to break the barricading. We have detained several students. Police is on high alert. We will trace the troublemakers and take appropriate action against them," Patna SSP Kartikeya K Sharma told reporters.

#WATCH | Bihar: Students protest in Patna turn violent as protesters clash with Police.