Students' Protest Turns Violent; Clash with Police
Patna: Sept. 28, 2007
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Students' Protest Turns Violent
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Photo by Shashi Uttam |
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Police in Patna on Friday resorted to lathi charge after a rally by All India Students Federation (AISF) and All India Youth Federation (AIYF) went haywire causing injuries to over a dozen protestors and five policemen.
The rally, organized to mark the centennial anniversary of the legendary freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh, started at Gandhi Maidan to protest against growing unemployment, rising crime and corruption, state's failure to hold students' union elections in Bihar universities, free education to victims of flood, implementation of Common Education Program, and a host of other demands.
When the rally reached Dak Bungalow crossing, security officials equipped with Vajra, the anti-riot vehicle, stopped them from moving forward. This forced the protestors to change their plan and instead of proceeding towards the Income Tax roundabout, they diverted themselves towards R-Block crossing via Station Road but once again met with tight security arrangement.
Some protestors tried to break the security cordon to force their ways towards the Chief Minister's house. When the security officials tried to stop them, the protestors pelted them with stones and bricks.
Within minutes tension flared and the entire area turned into a battlefield as police lobbed more than a dozen tear gas shells and resorted to lathi charge to control the mob.
29 protestors were taken into custody and injured were sent to different hospitals in Patna where they were administered first aid and released.
The protestors later accused the police of opening fire on them. The police has denied the charges.
A joint protest has been planned for Saturday against what they described as 'police brutality'.
Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (CPI) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders condemned 'the attack' on students calling it an assault on the students' right to protest against a 'corrupt, failed' government while demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
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