Indian Youth Congress Workers Arrested Amid Violent Protest Against Bihar CM

Several Indian Youth Congress workers were arrested after a violent protest against Bihar CM Nitish Kumar outside the Bihar Legislative Council. The protest turned chaotic with police getting attacked using sticks and PVC pipes. The Bihar Assembly also passed a strict Anti-Paper Leak Bill amid these tensions.

Several workers from the Indian Youth Congress were apprehended following a violent protest against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar outside the Bihar Legislative Council on Wednesday. According to SDM Patna, the protesters wielded sticks and PVC pipes, attacking the police.

SDM Patna, Shrikant Khandekar, stated, "The procession was carried out without permission. This area is densely populated and houses many schools. Despite our best efforts to manage the situation, they broke the barricades and assaulted the police, injuring some personnel. Consequently, we had to use force, leading to multiple arrests." On the same day, the Bihar Assembly passed the Anti-Paper Leak Bill amid an opposition walkout.

The assembly approved the Bihar Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, introduced by State Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Kumar Chaudhary. This bill aims to eliminate malpractices in government recruitment exams, proposing severe penalties including a minimum of 10 years in prison and a fine of at least Rs 1 crore for offenders.

Chaudhary explained the necessity of the bill to reporters, linking it to ongoing controversies such as the NEET paper leak. He emphasized the need for stringent laws to preserve the integrity of public examinations and ensure fairness for diligent students. "Agencies involved in malpractices face 10 years of imprisonment and a hefty minimum fine. This rigorous law aims to safeguard the future of Bihar's bright students," he added.

The legislation follows allegations of irregularities in the NEET-UG exam administered by the National Testing Agency. The Supreme Court recently denied canceling the examination, asserting no substantial breach occurred.

(With inputs from agencies.)