Patna (Bihar) [India]: Jan Suraaj leader Prashant Kishor was arrested early Monday morning during protests against alleged irregularities in the Bihar Civil Services (BPSC) examination. Kishor, who had been on a fast-unto-death since January 2 in support of protesting students, was sent to jail after refusing to accept the conditions outlined in his bail order.
Recounting the events leading to his arrest, Kishor stated, “For five days, I have been peacefully protesting in Gandhinagar. At 4 am today, police officials detained me, asking me to come with them. Their behavior was not wrong, and the claims that a police officer slapped me are false. However, I was kept in a police vehicle from 5 am to 11 am without being informed of my destination despite asking multiple times.”
Kishor further explained that after hours of being transported to various locations, the police attempted to conduct medical tests on him. “I refused to consent to medical tests, as I had not committed any criminal activity. I told the doctors this, and they refused to issue any illegal certificates despite police persuasion. My statement was recorded, stating I declined the tests. When brought to court and granted bail, I refused to sign the bail bond because it required me to agree not to engage in any wrongdoing. This is a fundamental fight, and I chose to go to jail instead,” he said.
The protests stem from demands by students for the cancellation of the BPSC exam due to alleged irregularities. Kishor’s arrest has sparked outrage among his supporters and the Jan Suraaj party, with accusations of police brutality and government attempts to suppress dissent.
Kishor’s advocate, YV Giri, condemned the police’s actions, describing them as “barbaric” and in violation of the law. “Police disrupted a peaceful protest by physically lifting, pushing, and punching protesters, including Prashant Kishor, who was unjustly slapped. This behavior violated Section 21 of the Indian Constitution. The arrest appears to be an attempt by the government to cover up the misdeeds of the Bihar Public Service Commission,” Giri alleged.
The Jan Suraaj party also accused the police of attempting to break Kishor’s fast and relocating him to undisclosed locations. In a post on X, the party stated, “Patna police are so scared they are not even bringing Prashant Kishor to Patna. He has been kept in a community health center in Fatuha for hours.” They also alleged police brutality, claiming, “The police administration tried to break Prashant Kishor’s fast by taking him to AIIMS. After failing, they are relocating him to another location. The crowd gathered outside AIIMS to see Kishor was brutally lathi-charged.”
As the protests and detainment escalate, questions arise about the government’s handling of the situation and its commitment to addressing students’ concerns regarding the BPSC examination.