CPI(ML) MLA Sandeep Saurav Arrested Amidst Protests Over NEET Irregularities in Patna

In a significant development in Bihar, Sandeep Saurav, a legislator from the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, was taken into custody on Friday for allegedly inciting violence during a youth protest in Patna. This protest was sparked by grievances related to irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate courses, as reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

The protests, organized by the All India Students’ Association, escalated on Wednesday into a situation where violence erupted, leading to clashes with law enforcement. According to police reports, BJP leaders were reportedly assaulted and their vehicles damaged during the unrest. The Senior Superintendent of Police for Patna, Kartikeya K Sharma, confirmed that Saurav has been placed in judicial custody following his arrest.

The agitation quickly spread beyond the capital, affecting multiple districts including Jehanabad, Darbhanga, Katihar, and Begusarai by Thursday. Authorities reported that demonstrators engaged in stone-pelting, breached barricades, and vandalized government property while voicing demands calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In a response to the growing unrest, police detained at least 146 individuals across various districts over Thursday and Friday.

Following his arrest, Saurav remained defiant, asserting that the protests would not cease until Minister Pradhan stepped down. He emphasized that the youth across the nation would persist in their struggle, stating, “This fight should continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns and justice is delivered to the families of those who took their own lives due to the NEET paper leak.” His remarks highlight the deep emotional and social undercurrents driving the protests.

This incident highlights the growing tensions surrounding the education system in India, especially as students and youth groups rally against perceived injustices and failures in the system. The stakes are particularly high as the future of countless students hangs in the balance, and many are unwilling to remain silent in the face of perceived governmental negligence.

Source: scroll.in