Bihar

• 02 Jan 2025

Complaint Against Police Action on BPSC Students

Why in News? 

A Bihar-based advocate has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) regarding the police lathi charge on BPSC students protesting for a re-examination of the 70th BPSC Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination (CCE) after an alleged paper leak. 

 Key Points 

• Examination Controversy: 
  • The BPSC exam, conducted on 13th December 2024, saw 3.28 lakh candidates across 912 centres. 
    • Allegations of a paper leak at one of the exam centers led to the announcement of a re-examination on 4th January 2025 for affected candidates. 
  • The commission denied the paper leak, asserting that the exam was peaceful at other centres. 
• Protests and Police Action: 
  • For 15 days, BPSC aspirants protested at Gardanibagh, Patna, demanding justice. 
  • On 28th December 2024, police used canes and water cannons to disperse the crowd. 
  • Following the lathi charge, a delegation of students met the Chief Secretary to present their demands. 
• Allegations of Excessive Force: 
  • It is alleged that police fractured students’ bones and used force indiscriminately, even against peaceful protesters with folded hands. 
  • Police used water cannons on protesters during chilling winter nights, describing the actions as aggravated human rights violations. 
  • The complaint also claimed that male police officers brutally beat female protesters in the presence of senior officials. 
• Constitutional and Ethical Violations: 
  • The excessive force violated Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly. 
  • Code of Conduct was breached as Principle 4 of India’s Police Code of Conduct, emphasized that force should be minimal and used only as a last resort after persuasion, advice, and warnings