On 22 July 2026, Bihar Police used water cannon, tear gas and a lathi charge to stop an AISA-led student march towards Raj Bhavan at JP Golambar near Gandhi Maidan in Patna. More protests, arrests and a statewide bandh on 25 July followed, with fresh clashes at Dak Bungalow Chowk. Police say protesters broke barricades and threw stones; students say they were beaten and jailed for protesting. On 27 July the Bihar government announced it would withdraw all protest cases filed before 6 pm on 26 July.
Key takeaways
- The All India Students' Association (AISA), linked to the CPI(ML) Liberation, led a "Lok Bhavan march" in Patna on 22 July 2026 to demand Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET paper leak, two days after the Delhi crackdown.
- Police stopped the march with layered barricades at JP Golambar near Gandhi Maidan and used water cannon, then tear gas, then a baton charge, after some protesters tried to push through.
- Patna Police registered 21 FIRs over 22 July, named about 500 unidentified people, arrested 57 students and published photographs of 60 people for identification.
- AISA called a Bihar bandh on 25 July. In Patna, police say protesters threw stones at Dak Bungalow Chowk; several were detained, and Tej Pratap Yadav was detained near Gandhi Maidan.
- On 27 July the Bihar Home Department announced the withdrawal of all FIRs and release of everyone held over protests before 6 pm on 26 July. Released students alleged ill-treatment in custody.
Background
Students across India were demanding Pradhan's resignation over the NEET-UG paper leak. On 20 July police in Delhi used lathi charges and tear gas to stop the Cockroach Janta Party's march on Parliament. Outlook See Police action at the 20 July march.
In Patna, AISA organised a "Lok Bhavan march" for 22 July, led by CPI(ML) Liberation MLA Sandeep Saurav, a former AISA national general secretary. National Herald (PTI) Patna has seen similar confrontations before, such as the BPSC exam protests of 2024.
22 July: the march to Raj Bhavan
The march began near Patna University and headed for the Governor's residence. Police put up multi-layer barricades at JP Golambar, about three km from Raj Bhavan. LatestLY (PTI)
Documented Officials repeatedly asked the crowd to disperse. Sections of the crowd allegedly tried to push through the barricades, and police first used water cannon and tear gas, then a baton charge. Some students staged a sit-in on the road, and groups moved towards Dak Bungalow Chauraha and Gandhi Maidan. Outlook Several student leaders and participants were detained. LatestLY (PTI)
We are on the streets to bring the Modi government back to its senses. Our demand is that in the wake of the brutal suppression of the Jantar Mantar protests, not only Pradhan, but also Union Home Minister Amit Shah should resign.
Sandeep Saurav, CPI(ML) Liberation MLA, to PTI Videos, Patna, 22 July 2026
Inside the Bihar Legislative Council, RJD MLC Sunil Kumar Singh alleged "brutal police action" against the students, and the opposition walked out. National Herald (PTI) The next day, LJP (Ram Vilas) MLA Raju Tiwari sought a censure resolution in the Assembly over violence during the Patna protest. Free Press Journal
Patna Police later published photographs of people it accused of vandalising public property and assaulting police personnel, media workers and civilians on 22 July. Outlook
23 and 24 July: arrests and more detentions
On 23 July a large number of students gathered outside Patna College and blocked Ashok Rajpath to protest the lathi charge. Police dispersed them and detained several students. The students said their protest was peaceful. Telangana Today (IANS)
By 25 July, police had registered 21 FIRs at Patna police stations over the 22 July violence, naming about 500 unidentified people, and had arrested 57 students on charges including rioting, obstructing public servants, assault and damaging public property. Patna SSP Kartikeya Sharma said CCTV footage across the city was being analysed and social media activity monitored. Patna Press
Claim · lawyers Advocate Rishikesh Narayan said naming unidentified accused made it easier to arrest anyone who took part. Advocate Ashok Kumar alleged that offences carrying under seven years were being treated with stricter provisions to justify arrests. Patna Press Claim · CPI(ML) The party said AISA state secretary Dipankar Mishra and vice-president Saba Afrin had been arrested in Patna and their whereabouts not disclosed. Outlook Sandeep Saurav was picked up a day before the bandh. DT Next (PTI)
25 July: the Bihar bandh in Patna
AISA called a statewide bandh for 25 July over the police action, backed by the CPI(ML) and the Revolutionary Youth Association. Authorities told private schools in Patna to stay shut, and police said the bandh had little effect on normal life in the capital. Outlook
Protesters clashed with police at Dak Bungalow Chauraha. Police position "They pelted us with stones. They even tried to break the barricade. We have detained several students," SSP Kartikeya Sharma said. Claims that crude bombs were thrown at police were being verified. Tej Pratap Yadav, chief of the Janshakti Janta Dal, was detained after visiting Ram Gulam Chowk to back the students. Siasat (PTI)
Bihar Police headquarters later said the SHO of Gandhi Maidan police station was critically injured during the 25 July violence. Telangana Today Statewide, the government told the Supreme Court that the protest turned violent at Gandhi Maidan "near Ghulam chowk" and in several districts. LiveLaw Events in other districts are on our page on police firing in Bihar's districts.
What the footage shows
Claim · circulating videos Dozens of short clips from Patna on these dates have circulated online. Going by their captions, and by the news reports above, they show these kinds of incidents. We have not verified each clip, and captions are not findings of fact.
- On 22 July: water cannon aimed at marchers, tear gas fired at the crowd and protesters coughing and suffering its effects, and repeated lathi charges. One clip is captioned as a lathi charge after protesters broke through a gate of Gandhi Maidan; another as police throwing stones at protesters; one shows a protester filming himself as water cannon and tear gas are used.
- On 23 July: police detaining students, in some cases chasing them, near the university area.
- On 25 July: lathi charges on individual students and on groups, and protesters being detained.
The use of water cannon, tear gas and lathis on 22 July is confirmed by police-attributed PTI reports. We found no news report confirming that police threw stones in Patna; that remains an allegation.
Protesters' account
Students say they marched peacefully against the paper leak and the Delhi crackdown and were beaten, gassed and jailed. Patna University Students' Union president Shantanu Shekhar said after release: "I was beaten and harassed. Students were kept alongside criminals... Eighteen police vehicles arrived and picked me up from my home." Families said some of those arrested had not taken part. Patna Press
Police and government account
Police say protesters tried to break barricades, threw stones and attacked officers, media workers and civilians, and that force followed repeated appeals to disperse. In the Supreme Court, the Bihar government denied using disproportionate force, while conceding that tear gas and water cannon caused injuries to protesters. It said 157 police personnel and seven public servants were injured statewide. Siasat LiveLaw
Outcome
- Detentions: Bihar Police HQ said 694 people were detained across the state on 25 July; 339 minors and students were released after verification and 355 were sent to judicial custody. Telangana Today
- Cases withdrawn: On 27 July the Home Department said no "adverse legal action" would be taken against anyone for protesting before 6 pm on 26 July, that FIRs would be withdrawn and detainees released. AISA president Neha Bora had met DGP Vinay Kumar hours earlier to seek this. DT Next (PTI) Free Press Journal
- Releases: 144 detainees were released from Beur jail on 29 July, and Sandeep Saurav was released late that night. The state said 64 FIRs had been registered across 20 districts. Patna Press
- Supreme Court: Bihar told the court that 69 FIRs were registered and 500 arrests made statewide between 22 and 25 July, and that 222 students were released on bail and 75 children by the Juvenile Justice Board. LiveLaw
Questions people ask
Why did police lathi-charge students in Patna on 22 July 2026?
Police stopped an AISA march towards Raj Bhavan at JP Golambar. Reports say sections of the crowd tried to push through barricades after being asked to disperse, and police used water cannon, tear gas and then lathis.
Who organised the Patna protest?
The All India Students' Association, linked to the CPI(ML) Liberation. MLA Sandeep Saurav led the march, which demanded Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET paper leak.
Were cases against Patna protesters withdrawn?
Yes. On 27 July the Bihar government announced it would withdraw FIRs and release everyone held for protests before 6 pm on 26 July. Releases from Beur jail followed on 29 July.
Was Tej Pratap Yadav arrested in Patna?
He was detained by police on 25 July after visiting protesting students near Gandhi Maidan during the bandh.
How many people were injured in Patna?
No Patna-only total has been published. Police said the Gandhi Maidan SHO was critically injured on 25 July, and statewide the government reported 157 police and seven public servants hurt.
Sources
- LatestLY (PTI): Bihar Police use tear gas and lathi-charge to disperse student protest, 22 Jul 2026
- Outlook: Patna student protest turns violent, police use tear gas and water cannons, 22 Jul 2026
- National Herald: Bihar Police use tear gas, water cannons against students, 22 Jul 2026
- Telangana Today: Student protests erupt in Patna, Katihar; police detain demonstrators, 23 Jul 2026
- Free Press Journal: Bihar Assembly adjourned amid uproar over Jehanabad police firing, 24 Jul 2026
- Patna Press: Bihar Police file 27 FIRs, arrest 93 students, 25 Jul 2026
- Outlook: Why is Bihar bandh today? What sparked the statewide shutdown, 25 Jul 2026
- Siasat (PTI): Bihar Police use tear gas, baton charge as NEET bandh turns violent, 25 Jul 2026
- Free Press Journal: Bihar to withdraw FIRs against NEET-UG protesters, 27 Jul 2026
- Telangana Today: Bihar Police report 694 detained; 91 policemen injured, 28 Jul 2026
- DT Next (PTI): Bihar govt to withdraw cases, release those jailed, 28 Jul 2026
- Patna Press: 350 students released after NEET protest arrests in Bihar, 31 Jul 2026
- LiveLaw: 'AK 47 fired during student protests but none injured', Bihar govt tells Supreme Court, 17 Aug 2026