Thousands of Bihar Police exam candidates blocked tracks at Patliputra Railway Station in Bihar after trains arrived late. The agitation disrupted rail services for hours before officials arranged special transport and cleared the lines.
Thousands of candidates appearing for the Bihar Police Prohibition Department recruitment examination brought rail traffic to a grinding halt on Saturday after protesting against an alleged shortage of trains to examination centres, triggering hours of chaos, vandalism and police action at Patliputra railway station.
The situation escalated when large numbers of candidates jumped onto railway tracks, stopped train movement and raised slogans, forcing railway and district authorities to intervene. Police later resorted to firing aerial shots to bring the situation under control after tensions mounted at the station.
The cops also fired tear gas shells to disperse the large crowd that was disrupting the railway traffic.
TRAIN SHORTAGE SPARKS PROTEST
The recruitment examination was scheduled to be held in two shifts on Sunday. Candidates had begun arriving at the station late on Saturday night to travel to their allotted examination centres.
According to the protesters, adequate train arrangements had not been made despite the large number of candidates expected to travel for the examination. As crowds swelled at the station, frustration among aspirants grew.
The flashpoint came when candidates attempted to board an examination special train operating between Patliputra and Katihar. Amid a rush to enter the train, confusion and overcrowding led to unrest.
Angry candidates then sat on the railway tracks and blocked the train, raising slogans and demanding immediate transport arrangements.
VANDALISM REPORTED, TRAIN SERVICES HIT
During the protest, reports emerged of vandalism inside the examination special train. Several trains remained stranded on different platforms for hours as rail operations were severely affected.
Railway officials, along with Danapur Sub-Divisional Magistrate and senior police officers, reached the station and tried to persuade the candidates to clear the tracks.
To ease the situation, the Railways arranged special trains and made alternative travel arrangements to transport candidates to different examination centres.
SENIOR OFFICIALS RUSH TO SPOT
As the protest intensified, senior police and administrative officials camped at the station to monitor the situation.
Inspector General Jitendra Rana, the district police chief and other senior officers reached the scene. During the unrest, IG Rana reportedly suffered minor injuries. The officer-in-charge of Rupaspur police station was also said to have sustained minor injuries.
Candidates continued sloganeering and disrupting train operations even as officials held discussions with them.
POLICE RESORT TO AERIAL FIRING
With tensions refusing to subside, police fired three rounds in the air to disperse the crowd and restore order.
Even after the firing, the station remained tense for a considerable period as authorities worked to prevent further escalation.
Additional police personnel were deployed at the station, while railway and district authorities continued efforts to normalise train services and ensure candidates could reach their examination venues.
