Patna (July 23, 2026) – Protests over the alleged NEET paper leak have continued across several districts of Bihar. In Katihar, Darbhanga and Begusarai, demonstrators resorted to stone‑pelting, damaging government property and prompting police baton charges.

In Katihar, a peaceful march turned violent when a group tried to breach the main gate of the District Magistrate’s office. A scuffle ensued, injuring both police personnel and protesters. District Magistrate Ashutosh Dwivedi and SP Parichay Kumar later organised a flag march to restore order.

Begusarai saw a similar scene: protesters climbed the DM office gate and refused to step down when asked, leading to a baton charge that left several demonstrators injured.

In Darbhanga and Bhagalpur, the crowd raised the paper‑leak issue and also threw stones. Senior officials, including DIG Manoj Tiwari, DM Kaushal Kumar and SSP Jagunath Reddy, arrived on the spot to contain the unrest.

Student groups staged marches in Patna, Munger, Sheikhpura and Vaishali, blocking roads and demanding that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan take moral responsibility for the alleged leak and resign. Bihar Police have lodged FIRs against more than 600 unidentified protesters for vandalising public property, and have detained over 40 students in Patna alone.

Members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA) demonstrated in Patna in solidarity with the students protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. AIPWA National General Secretary Meena Tiwari condemned police misconduct towards women during the lathi‑charge, while National Vice‑President Manju Prakash accused the BJP government of shielding perpetrators and unleashing violence on students and women demanding justice.