August 21, 2024: Police used lathi-charge in Patna, Bihar's capital, when people took to the streets to support the 'Bharat Bandh' called by certain groups in protest of community-based reservation. The bandh has been organized by 21 groups nationwide to protest the Supreme Court's ruling on SC-ST reservation. Protests also turned violent in other areas of the state like Muzaffarpur, Jehanabad, and Madhepura, with clashes occurring between the demonstrators and police.
In Muzaffarpur, protesters created roadblocks to support the Bharat Bandh, causing a brief disruption in traffic, while in Jehanabad, demonstrators clashed with security forces while attempting to block traffic on National Highway-83, according to the police. Five demonstrators were apprehended while attempting to obstruct the flow of traffic on NH-83 close to Unta Chowk. Hulas Baitha, a Sub-Inspector at the Town police station, mentioned that they were eventually taken away from the area and things returned to normalcy.
The police mentioned that demonstrators in Madhepura and Muzaffarpur also attempted to obstruct traffic flow in various locations, but were quickly dispersed by security forces. While demonstrations are ongoing, the state is also organizing recruitment tests for constable positions in Bihar Police, Bihar Special Armed Police, and other units across multiple districts. The state government had previously directed the police to guarantee seamless transportation for candidates to the examination venues.
The police stated that government offices, banks, businesses, and schools are operating as usual. The Home department has instructed officers, employees, and department heads at the state secretariat and department building to arrive at the office by 9.30 am, as stated in a note on Tuesday. Increased security measures have been implemented at the state secretariat, heads of department building, and other significant locations in the state. The protesters halted trains in Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur, and there was no bus service on various routes. The protesters organized demonstrations in various locations and obstructed numerous roads, including national highways.