Bihar Police Arrests Jan Suraaj Chief Prashant Kishor Amid Hunger Strike Protesting BPSC Examination Irregularities

In the early hours of Monday, Bihar Police arrested Prashant Kishor, the chief of Jan Suraaj, during his indefinite hunger strike at Gandhi Maidan, Patna. Police personnel forcibly removed Kishor and his supporters from the protest site and took him to Patna AIIMS for a medical examination, as reported by PTI.

Patna District Magistrate (DM) Chandrashekhar Singh confirmed the arrest, stating, “Kishor and his supporters were sitting on a dharna at Gandhi Maidan, which was deemed illegal. They will now be produced before a court.” Singh further clarified that the protest was taking place near a restricted site.

Protest Over BPSC Examination Controversy

Prashant Kishor initiated his hunger strike on Thursday, demanding the cancellation of the integrated 70th Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on December 13. The protest follows allegations of irregularities in the examination process, prompting the government to order a re-examination.

Kishor contended that the government’s decision to conduct a re-examination served as implicit acknowledgment of the errors in the initial process. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, he said, “By conducting the re-examination, the government has legally accepted that irregularities occurred in the examination.”

He further urged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to meet with affected students, emphasizing the issue’s significance for the state’s welfare.

Appeal for Broader Political Support

Kishor also called on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav to join the movement. “These leaders have the influence to mobilize significant support. The future of our youth is at stake, and it is crucial to stand against a regime that has resorted to lathi charges 87 times in three years,” Kishor said, as per PTI reports.

District Administration Takes Legal Action

The district administration registered an FIR against Kishor and 150 of his supporters, asserting that the protest at Gandhi Maidan was unauthorized.

Background of the BPSC Controversy

The 70th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), held on December 13, became controversial following allegations of question paper leaks, which the BPSC has denied. As a corrective measure, a re-examination was ordered for approximately 12,000 candidates who had appeared at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar center in Patna. However, only 5,943 candidates participated in the re-test, according to a press release by the commission.

The protests in Patna continue as students demand the complete cancellation of the examination, citing concerns over fairness and transparency.

Kishor’s arrest marks a critical juncture in the ongoing agitation over alleged examination irregularities. As the movement gathers momentum, it places increasing pressure on the Bihar government to address the demands of protesting students and restore faith in the state’s examination system.