Students Clash with Shopkeepers, Police; Many Injured
Patna: June 26, 2008
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Students Clash with Shopkeepers, Police
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Photo by Anupam Singh |
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Hundreds of students in Patna on Thursday clashed with shopkeepers, university authorities, and the district officials turning Ashok Rajpath into a battle zone alleging massive irregularities in the Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination results demanding scrapping of the results and re-holding of the exams.
Chanting anti-administration slogans, the disgruntled students blocked the road and tried to force the shopkeepers to down their shutters.
Not to be intimidated by the rogue students, the shop owners instead pulled out sticks and batons and fought with the protestors who also pelted the shops with bricks and stones. This led to an all out scuffle between the shopkeepers and the students as law enforcement officials rushed to the troubled spot only to face the wrath of the angry mob.
When attempts to negotiate with the students only acted as fuel in fire, the police opened lathi charge during which several students, shopkeepers, and passers-by were injured.
Nearly two hours later, order was somewhat restored but not before the students threatened to step up their agitation if their demands were not met.
According to the protestors, the fact that 189 students were selected from just one test center with 200 students was indicative of irregularity in the test since the numbers of candidates succeeding from other centers were miniscule.
Meanwhile, the examination commission has unequivocally denied charges of any wrongdoing.
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