Student protest over train shortage and delays turns violent
Babushahi Bureau
Patna (Bihar), June 14, 2026: Chaos erupted at Patliputra Railway Station in Bihar's capital late Saturday night when thousands of candidates appearing for the Bihar Police Prohibition Department recruitment examination staged a violent protest over train shortages, delays, and the long distance to examination centres.
According to reports, frustrated candidates blocked railway tracks and protested against what they described as poor transport arrangements.
The situation quickly escalated into stone-pelting and vandalism, creating panic among passengers and local shopkeepers. Several shops inside and around the station premises were damaged during the unrest.
A local shopkeeper, Sanjay Kumar Sharma, said the protesters initially blocked the tracks, refusing to move despite repeated requests from railway and district authorities. As tensions rose, some members of the crowd allegedly began attacking shops and railway property with stones.
The recruitment examination was scheduled in two shifts, drawing thousands of candidates from across Bihar. With several trains running late, many aspirants feared they would miss their exams.
The unrest intensified when the Patliputra–Katihar Exam Special Train arrived at the platform. Protesters lay on the tracks, raised slogans against railway authorities, and demanded cancellation of the examination.
Rail traffic on the route was severely affected, with several trains, including the prestigious Rajdhani Express, halted at various stations or diverted to alternative routes.
As the situation deteriorated, senior officials, including Railway Inspector General (IG) Jitendra Rana, Railway Police officers, RPF personnel, and district police teams rushed to the spot.
Efforts to calm the protesters reportedly failed after sections of the crowd allegedly began pelting stones at security personnel.
Railway IG Jitendra Rana sustained injuries in the violence, while several other police personnel, including the Rupaspur police station chief, were also hurt.
Police subsequently launched a baton charge, fired tear gas shells, and reportedly discharged three warning shots in the air to disperse the crowd. Authorities later brought the situation under control and arranged special trains to transport candidates to their examination centres.
An investigation into the incident is underway, while railway and police authorities are assessing the damage caused during the violence.