Student wings of Opposition parties force closure of colleges

Student wings of opposition parties forced closure of universities and colleges, paralyzing teaching and administrative works of Patna and Magadh University colleges in Patna on February 15, 2010.

Hundreds of students moved in procession and tried to enforce the closure to press for CBI probe into the death of two students during agitation against the coaching institutes in Patna last week.

They also demanded compensation of Rs 20 lakh to families of each of the dead students and a law to control the functioning of private coaching institutes in the Bihar.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Protest continues against private coaching institutes

Activists of All India Students Association (AISA) halted the normal functioning of Patna University affiliated colleges in Patna on February 13, 2010 in protest against the killing of Sachin Sharma and government's regulations for private coaching institutes. They were demanding Rs1000 maximum fee and 60 students per batch in coaching institutes.

Top: Students feel dejected after their examinations have been put off due to students agitation.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Students stage dharna against police lathicharge

Students staged dharna in protest against police lathicharge and firing on students who were protesting against private coaching centres, in Patna on February 12, 2010. The dharna was also organised to pay tributes to Sachin, who was killed in the firing.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Students protest against coaching centres turns violent in Patna

One student was killed and 10 others, including policemen, were injured after students ire against some private coaching centres turned violent in Patna on February 9, 2010.

Police had to burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to quell unruly strong mob of students who were protesting poor quality of teaching and unethical practices adopted by some coaching institutes.

They also claimed that coaching istitutes had duped them. The victim, who succumbed to injuries at a hospital, was accidentally fired upon by a guard posted in front of a institute, police said.

Trouble began when hundreds of agitated students blocked roads in Bazaar Samiti, Pathar Ki Masjid, Kankerbagh, Kadamkuan and Rajendra Nagar localities. They also pelted stones at the coaching institutions and vehicles, demanding shutting down of the centres.

Police said they had to resort to mild lathicharge. Teargas shells were fired to disperse the agitators, who had set police motorcycles on fire, after police failed to control the situation.

Photo: Nagendra K Singh and Aftab Alam Siddiqui