Police in Bihar’s Siwan opened fire on protesters on Saturday (July 25, 2026) as the Bihar bandh, called by the All India Students’ Association (AISA) to protest the NEET paper leak, turned violent in several parts of the State, with incidents of stone pelting and vandalism.
By the time Union Education Minister Dharemdra Pradhan resigned in Delhi, the damage had already been done in Bihar. Siwan police fired 10 rounds, injuring at least three protesters with their bullets.
Police initially used tear gas and mild force to disperse the crowd but later opened fire as protesters continued throwing stones at security personnel. Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Jha and several other police officers were injured in the stone pelting.
Stone pelting took place in several districts, including Saran, Sitamarhi, Bhagalpur, Aurangabad, West Champaran, Lakhisarai, and Patna. Police jeeps were set on fire in Chapra and Sitamarhi.
In Patna, a police jeep was overturned by the protesters, followed by heavy stone pelting near Gandhi Maidan, despite a heavy deployment of the police force in the State capital. The remains of a country-made bomb were found on the road near Gandhi Maidan, and a police picket was damaged.
A large number of students gathered near Gandhi Maidan and climbed a mobile tower near Ramghulam Chowk, where Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) president Tej Pratap Yadav was also seen waving the tricolour. When the news of Mr. Pradhan’s resignation came in, the protesters started shouting slogans in support of the Cockroach Janta Party which has been spearheading the agitation.
Around 70,000 police jawans were deployed across Bihar and their leaves were cancelled for the deputation. Schools were closed in several districts, including Patna and Aurangabad. Along with the local police, personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed to control the crowd.
The Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) slammed the State government for opening fire at the protesters.
“Bihar police fired bullets at protesters in Siwan! Tear gas shells can still be understood, but why were bullets fired? [Bihar Chief Minister]] Samrat Choudhary has gone mad with the arrogance of power,” the RJD said in a post on X.
The Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, also posted a video message on X, saying, “During a student protest in Siwan, the police resorted to direct firing on the students. Firing was also done with an AK-47. The police fired bullets on the innocent students who were protesting. Action should be taken against the guilty officials.”
Earlier on July 23, the police had fired 20 to 30 rounds on protesters in Jehanabad who had attacked the office of a Jehanabad district magistrate.
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) State Secretary Kunal said that the Bihar Bandh had once again proved that the voices of protesting students and youth cannot be suppressed, despite the unprecedented and brutal police crackdown unleashed upon them across the State.
“BJP leaders are accusing every youth who are jobless, facing exam paper leaks, and being subjected to lathi-charges and gunfire and labelling them as ‘terrorists’ and ‘Rohingyas’. No one has the right to humiliate the youth and students in this manner,” Mr. Kunal said.
After Mr. Pradhan’s resignation, the RJD’s Mr. Yadav posted on X, saying, “Victory of truth, rights, struggle, and justice! Defeat of the oppressive government’s lies, tricks, and arrogance. Congratulations to the student and youth power. Many questions remain unanswered.”
Published - July 25, 2026 05:04 pm IST