Patna: A protest by students outside the Bihar University of Health Sciences (BUHS) in Patna’s Jakkanpur area turned tense on Tuesday as students raised concerns over alleged irregularities in examination results. Around 600 students gathered at the university, following which clashes broke out between protesters and police. Several students and three policemen, including SHO Jakkanpur Rituraj Singh and constables Jitendra Kumar and Suman Kumari, were injured.Students alleged that police resorted to a lathicharge when they tried to press their demands. During the confrontation, windows of some vehicles passing through the area were also damaged. Police and administrative officials reached the spot and increased security around the university.A university employee alleged that protesters vandalised parts of the campus, including classrooms and upper floors. Sujit Kumar, security in charge of Aryabhatta Knowledge University, also alleged that two or three security guards were assaulted.Students said delays in examinations and results, increased fees and an academic session delayed by nearly three years were affecting their education and employment prospects. Medical, paramedical, ANM and GNM students also raised their demands at Gandhi Maidan.Patna University Students’ Union president Shantanu Shekhar expressed support for the students and said their grievances should be addressed at the earliest.Bihar Para Medical Association state president Bharat Bhushan demanded that students who failed by up to five marks be awarded five grace marks, as per rules. He also advised unsuccessful students to obtain copies of their answersheets through the Right to Information (RTI) Act and alleged that some colleges were involved in practices aimed at helping students pass.
