75 hurt in pitched battle between ABVP men, cops

Patna, March 26

Nearly 75 people, including the senior superintendent of police of Patna, policemen and ABVP workers were injured in police lathicharge and stone pelting by protesters who were stopped from entering the Assembly to protest against "deterioration" in education system in Bihar.

At least 40 policemen and a magistrate were injured in the stone-throwing by the protestors at R-block near the Assembly, SSP Jitendra Rana said. Police fired several rounds in air to control the situation.

The SSP, who received hand injuries, was seen leading the security force holding a pistol and firing in the air to disperse the ABVP protesters who forced open the iron gate to reach the Assembly as part of its “Vidhan Sabha March”.

The march from Gandhi Maidan to the Assembly had been organised to protest against the "deterioration of education system in Bihar".

Visuals beamed on many TV channels showed policemen hitting many protesters with their batons, while blood was seen oozing out of a policeman's head after being hit by a stone.

Following the clash, over 12 BJP legislators, including state party chief Mangal Pandey trooped out of the Assembly in support of the ABVP workers. They were, however, stopped by the police who were seen pushing and shoving the legislators.

The BJP Legislators then sat on the street outside the assembly entrance and shouted anti-government slogans to protest against the lathicharge on ABVP workers. — PTI