Bihar Protest Mayhem: Police Clash with Bharat Bandh Supporters

Bihar witnessed chaos as police used lathi charges and water cannons to disperse protesters blocking roads and railways in support of the Bharat Bandh over caste-based reservations. The incident saw various disturbances across multiple districts, leading to several arrests and detentions. No major injuries were reported.

Chaos erupted in Bihar on Wednesday as police employed lathi charges and water cannons to disperse crowds of protesters supporting the Bharat Bandh, called in response to a Supreme Court ruling on caste-based reservations. The demonstrators had set up rail and road blockades, causing significant disruptions.

Protesters disrupted train services at Darbhanga and Buxar railway stations and blocked traffic in various districts, including Patna and Muzaffarpur. At Dak Bungalow Chowk in Patna, police inadvertently hit a senior officer while dispersing the crowd. No significant injuries were reported, though several arrests were made.

The Patna District Administration confirmed the officer's accidental blow and decided against disciplinary action. Across other districts, security personnel cleared blockades and detained multiple protesters as clashes erupted. Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan criticized the government's stance on SC/ST reservations during the demonstrations.

(With inputs from agencies.)