Patna: NEET protests turn violent across Bihar, 400+ arrested; state to free all 694 detainees and withdraw FIRs
Bihar was gripped by widespread unrest over the 2026 NEET examination paper leak, with violence erupting across the state including in Patna, where JJD chief Tej Pratap Yadav was detained. The state government subsequently announced that all 694 people arrested in connection with Citizens for Justice and Peace-linked demonstrations would be released and their FIRs withdrawn. On the judicial front, the Patna High Court ordered the creation of three fast-track courts to hear examination malpractice cases.
Bihar bandh turns violent: AK-47 fired, 400+ in custody as NEET protests escalate
Bihar witnessed widespread violence as protests over the 2026 NEET paper leak boiled over into a state-wide shutdown. Republic World reported that an AK-47 was fired during the unrest and more than 400 people were taken into custody across the state. Janata Jan Dal chief Tej Pratap Yadav was among those detained in Patna after he alleged that police had arrested him for supporting student demonstrations against the examination paper leak. The protests were part of a broader movement against alleged malpractice in NEET, the undergraduate medical entrance examination, which has been shaken by repeated paper leak allegations. Bihar became one of the most turbulent centres of the protests, with violence reported across multiple districts. Republic World noted that the unrest accompanied the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in connection with the NEET controversy. The shutdown paralysed normal life in parts of the state, and the combination of political detentions, an armed incident and mass arrests underlined how severely the NEET crisis had fractured public trust in examination administration. [8]
Bihar government to release all 694 arrested NEET protesters and withdraw FIRs
The Bihar government announced it would release all 694 individuals arrested in connection with demonstrations organised by the Citizens for Justice and Peace, and would withdraw the First Information Reports filed against them, the Times of India reported. The protests, centred on allegations of a NEET paper leak, had led to mass arrests across Bihar during a period of state-wide unrest. The decision to free all detainees and withdraw FIRs represents a significant step by the state government to de-escalate a political and social crisis that had drawn widespread attention. The Citizens for Justice and Peace, a civil liberties organisation, had been associated with the mobilisation of protesters against alleged examination malpractice. The withdrawal of FIRs means those arrested during the protests will not face criminal proceedings arising from their participation in demonstrations. The move was expected to ease tensions in a state where the NEET controversy has provoked deep anger among students and families who believe the examination system has been compromised, affecting the prospects of candidates who had relied on fair competition for medical college seats. [9]
🎓 Patna High Court to set up three fast-track courts for exam paper leak cases
The Patna High Court decided to establish three special fast-track courts in Bihar to hear cases arising from examination paper leaks and malpractice, Mid-Day reported on 28 July 2026. The special courts will exclusively handle cases registered under the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, with the aim of ensuring their swift disposal. The creation of dedicated fast-track courts reflects the scale of the examination scandal in Bihar, where multiple paper leak cases have resulted in criminal proceedings that risk clogging the regular court system and delaying justice for all parties. The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, was enacted at the central level to provide a stronger legal framework for prosecuting those responsible for leaking examination papers or facilitating malpractice in public exams. By directing the establishment of three courts specifically for these cases, the Patna High Court signalled that it expects prosecutions to be handled with urgency rather than absorbed into regular court dockets. Bihar has been at the centre of India's examination integrity crisis, and the fast-track arrangement is intended to ensure proceedings advance without the delays that typically afflict ordinary criminal dockets. [5]
🗳️ Bihar CM unveils development projects worth over Rs 11,000 crore
Bihar's Chief Minister unveiled a package of development projects worth more than Rs 11,000 crore, Hindustan Times reported. The announcement was made in Patna and covers a broad programme of public investment across the state. Bihar has been a focus of sustained development spending as successive state governments have sought to address infrastructure deficits and raise living standards in one of India's most populous states. A package exceeding Rs 11,000 crore represents a substantial commitment of public resources across multiple development sectors. Development programmes of this scale in Bihar typically span road construction, water and sanitation infrastructure, power supply improvement and urban development schemes, though the specific sectoral breakdown was not detailed in the available headline report. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has positioned infrastructure-led development as a central plank of his administration's record in Bihar, and the unveiling of such a package in Patna underlines the state capital's continued role as the administrative and planning centre for state-wide investment. [6]
🪔 Bihar government hands over security of 11 religious and heritage sites to BSAP
The Bihar government transferred the security responsibilities for eleven religious and heritage sites to the Bihar Special Auxiliary Police, the Times of India reported. The decision to hand protection of these locations to the BSAP, a specialised state security force, signals the government's intention to strengthen and standardise arrangements at sites of religious and cultural significance. Bihar is home to some of India's most important sacred and heritage sites, drawing pilgrims and tourists throughout the year across multiple religious traditions. Placing their protection under a dedicated force allows for more coordinated security planning and the deployment of personnel suited to managing sensitive public spaces with large visitor numbers. The step also reflects a national trend toward more formal and specialised security at religious venues following incidents at shrines across India in recent years. The eleven sites covered by the new arrangement span locations that hold significance for the state's cultural identity. The BSAP's involvement is expected to improve consistency and accountability in how security is managed at heritage properties that attract visitors from across Bihar and beyond. [7]
Sources: [8] Republic World · [9] The Times of India · [5] Mid-Day · [6] Hindustan Times · [7] The Times of India