Patna, July 24 (IANS) The Patna Police have launched a major identification drive after violence erupted during a student protest over the alleged NEET paper leak in the Bihar capital on July 22.
Photographs of 117 individuals suspected of involvement in stone‑pelting and other acts of violence have been released on the social media platform X, with authorities seeking public assistance in identifying them.
The protest had been organised to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak. Thousands of students marched from Gandhi Maidan towards the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
During the demonstration, a section of the crowd allegedly turned violent, with reports of stone‑pelting targeting police personnel and media representatives.
According to the police, the released photographs were captured during the protest and are part of an ongoing investigation to identify those allegedly involved in the violence. Officials said legal action will be initiated against the suspects after their identities are verified.
As the crowd swelled, police initially attempted to control the situation using water cannons. However, when the protesters allegedly continued advancing and the situation deteriorated, police resorted to a lathi‑charge to disperse the crowd.
Authorities said managing the large gathering proved challenging as thousands of protesters occupied key roads in the city.
During the unrest, some protesters allegedly reached the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office and engaged in stone‑pelting. Police personnel, with the assistance of BJP workers present in the area, dispersed the crowd and restored order.
Following the incident, the Bihar Police and Patna Police uploaded photographs of the 117 suspects on their official X accounts as part of efforts to identify those allegedly involved in the disturbance.
Police officials said the investigation is continuing and that all individuals identified as having participated in acts of violence or vandalism will face legal proceedings in accordance with the law.
The release of the photographs marks a significant step in the investigation into the July 22 protest, which has become a major political issue in Bihar, with both the ruling alliance and the opposition offering differing accounts of the events and the subsequent police action.
–IANS
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