Police fired tear gas shells and took recourse to lathi-charge when a candidates of Bihar Police Prohibition (Excise) Constable examination disrupted railway traffic on the outskirts of Patna, alleging a lack of an adequate number of trains for a competitive exam, a top official said on Sunday (June 14, 2026).
Six people have been arrested, and a search is on to track down others involved in the mayhem at Pataliputra station, where security personnel and railway officials were also left injured in the pelting of stones.
According to Amresh Kumar, the Inspector General in-charge of the Railway Protection Force for East Central Zone, which covers a major part of Bihar, trouble erupted around midnight when "more than 200 young men, posing as students appearing for competitive exams" turned up at the Pataliputra station.
"Trains had been ferrying students to various parts of the State for the exams of the Excise Department scheduled on Sunday (June 14, 2026). The troublemakers alleged that arrangements were inadequate and squatted on the tracks, demanding a special train that could help them reach their destination in time," the IG said.
“The troublemakers alleged that arrangements were inadequate and squatted on the tracks, demanding a special train that could help them reach their destination in time,” he said.
The IG, who had rushed to the spot along with a contingent of RPF and GRP, said that the police informed the Railway authorities about the sudden rush and, around 2 a.m. a special train did arrive.
According to a statement issued by the office of SP, Railway, Patna, “Eight rounds were also fired in the air” to disperse the mob, and though an unspecified number of security personnel and other officials were injured in the stone-pelting, no hurt to passengers or damage to railway property was reported.
The IG said, “It appears that many of the young men at the station were anti-social elements who actually wanted to foment trouble so that the exams would get cancelled. Their antics affected traffic at the station where two passenger and a goods train remained stranded for hours. Other trains which had to pass through Pataliputra station were run on alternative routes till normalcy was restored.” He also said RPF and GRP have got in touch with Patna Police, with whom CCTV footage of the station will be shared to identify those involved in vandalism.
Patna Zone IG Jitendra Rana told reporters an FIR will be lodged in connection with the incident.
Those involved are being identified with the help of CCTV footage, and they will be brought to book, he said.
Meanwhile, when Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav was asked about the incident, he said, “It is unfortunate that such an incident took place on the eve of a competitive exam. Youngsters, too, should be mindful of decorum.”
Published - June 14, 2026 05:23 pm IST
Bihar / Patna / police / railway
Source: The Hindu - India News
