Patna boils again after violent student protests at Patliputra station; IG suffers injury, police fire warning shots

Massive violence broke out at the Patliputra Railway Station in Patna on Sunday morning when thousands of candidates arriving for the Bihar Police Prohibition Constable recruitment examination resorted to rioting, stone-pelting, and vandalism. The trouble began late Saturday night as a massive influx of aspirants accused railway authorities of acute mismanagement and a severe shortage of special trains to carry them to their far-flung examination centers. Frustrations boiled over when students attempting to board an examination-special train operating between Patliputra and Katihar faced extreme overcrowding, prompting hundreds to jump onto the tracks and bring the entire rail division to a grinding halt.

The situation quickly degenerated into an open riot as furious candidates targeted railway infrastructure, smashing open local shops, pelting heavy stones onto the platforms, and vandalizing the coaches of the stranded exam special train. The violence left the station grounds covered in shattered glass and debris, posing a severe threat to non-exam passengers and forcing the cancellation and diversion of major trains, including the premium Rajdhani Express. Rail Inspector General (IG) Jitendra Rana, alongside several local police officers and the Officer-in-Charge of the Rupaspur police station, sustained injuries after being struck by stones while trying to negotiate a peaceful resolution with the swelling crowd.

With the mob refusing to yield and pulling emergency train chains repeatedly, senior administrative and police forces deployed heavy reinforcements to regain control of the area. To scatter the thousands of agitated protesters who had mounted train engines and barricaded the tracks, the police resorted to mild lathi-charge, fired tear gas canisters, and IG Jitendra Rana ultimately ordered three warning shots to be fired into the air. Following the aggressive dispersal, the security forces restored order on the platforms, and railway authorities quickly organized substitute transport lines to safely ferry the cooperative examinees.

Patna District Magistrate Dr. Chandrashekhar Singh Thiyagarajan confirmed that the police received alerts regarding midnight disturbances and did their utmost to prevent escalation. He noted that while two special trains were already fully operational at the station, anti-social elements embedded within the crowd deliberately provoked the unrest by halting trains and trapping students who genuinely wanted to leave for their venues. The administration has officially confirmed that six individuals have been arrested for orchestrating the riots and destruction of property. Train operations and exam schedules have since returned to normal, and a full forensic and CCTV investigation is underway to identify the remaining rioters.