Prashant Kishor, the founder of Jan Suraaj, was taken into custody early Monday morning while participating in a hunger strike at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. He was protesting against the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination and demanding its cancellation due to allegations of a leaked question paper.
Police officials stated that Kishor and his supporters were taken into custody because their protest was deemed illegal, as it occurred at a restricted site near the Mahatma Gandhi statue. District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh confirmed the arrests and mentioned that Kishor would be presented in court.
Visuals from the protest showed a significant police presence as they removed Kishor from the site, despite attempts by supporters to intervene. Following his arrest, Kishor was transported to Patna AIIMS for a medical check-up.
The protests have been ongoing for over two weeks, with students demanding the complete cancellation of the BPSC exam rather than just a re-examination for some candidates. Kishor has been vocal about seeking support from other political leaders to amplify their demands. He warned that if the government did not announce a re-examination by the end of January, they would disrupt the upcoming Republic Day celebrations at Gandhi Maidan.
Kishor’s actions reflect growing frustration among students regarding the examination process in Bihar, and his arrest has sparked further discussions about the state’s handling of educational issues and protests.
