The Bihar government on Monday assured that no punitive or legal action will be taken against those who participated in the NEET-UG protest before 6 PM on July 26. In a notice issued by the Department of Home of the Bihar government, it said that they will withdraw FIRs and notices, release detained persons, and refrain from future action in those cases.
The development comes after earlier today, the Cockroach Janta Party raised the issue that they were getting reports of police action against protesters who participated in NEET-UG related agitation in BJP-ruled states.
Earlier today, Bihar Police said altogether 694 people, nearly half of whom minors, were detained for trying to enforce a state-wide bandh last week over the NEET paper leak issue.
According to a statement issued by the police, violence during the July 25 bandh, called by Left wing students’ unions, also resulted in injuries to 91 personnel and officials, a couple of administrative officers and 13 common people.
Among the detainees, “339 minors and students” were let off after age verification, while the remaining 355 were undergoing trial before courts “for involvement in violent activities”, it said.
Thirteen government vehicles were vandalised and another was set on fire by bandh supporters, and those who received injuries during such incidents included the SP of Siwan, and an SDPO each from Siwan and Sitamarhi districts, the statement said.
In Saran, two Block Development Officers received grievous injuries, one of whom lost an eye while the other had a serious wound in the head, it said.
Both BDOs were “battling for life” at separate hospitals in the state capital, police added.
With inputs from PTI