FIR Registered Against Patna University Students for Disrupting CM Nitish Kumar's Programme
In a significant development, an FIR has been officially registered at the Pirbahore police station against six students, including Patna University Students’ Union (PUSU) president Shantanu Shekhar. The charges stem from their alleged disruption of a high-profile programme attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at the university on March 30.
Complaint Details and Allegations
The complaint was filed by block panchayati raj officer Virendra Chaudhary, who has accused the students of multiple offenses. These include obstructing government work, causing a public disturbance, and violating law and order protocols. The incident occurred during the inauguration ceremony for new buildings at Patna University, turning what was meant to be a celebratory event into a scene of chaos.
According to the complaint, Chaudhary was assigned duty at the inauguration ceremony on March 30. Before the Chief Minister's arrival, approximately 15-20 students gathered near the event venue and began creating a ruckus. Their primary grievances were that they had not been invited to the programme and that the Vice-Chancellor's name was conspicuously absent from the foundation stone.
Escalation of the Protest
Within a short period, the number of protesting students swelled to 30-35. Despite efforts by police forces and magistrates to persuade them, the students refused to listen. They escalated their actions by raising slogans, disrupting the programme, and engaging in physical pushing and shoving. This confrontation resulted in injuries to some police personnel, highlighting the intensity of the clash.
Pirbahore SHO Mohd Sajjad provided further details, stating, "Videography of the incident was conducted, based on which some students have been identified. These include the PUSU president among several other students." The FIR has been registered against six named individuals and 30-35 unidentified persons, with ongoing raids to apprehend the accused and identify others involved.
Role of University and Government Officials
The complaint also noted that Patna University Vice-Chancellor Ajay Kumar was present at the spot during the incident. However, it alleges that he neither intervened to stop the students nor attempted to reason with them, raising questions about the administration's response to the unrest.
In a bid to de-escalate the situation, Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha and Education Minister Sunil Kumar tried to engage with the students. Unfortunately, their efforts were met with refusal, and the students even surrounded Sinha and the minister. Patna DM Thiyagrajan SM also attempted to persuade the protesters, but to no avail. Interestingly, some students were seen raising slogans in support of CM Nitish Kumar, adding a layer of complexity to the protest dynamics.
This incident underscores ongoing tensions within the university community and highlights the challenges of maintaining order during public events involving high-profile political figures. The legal proceedings against the students are expected to proceed as authorities continue their investigation into the matter.
