Prashant Kishor Sent to Jail After Refusing to Sign Bail Bond Over BPSC Protest

Patna: Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor was sent to jail on Monday after refusing to sign a bail bond following his arrest during a hunger strike at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. The founder of Jan Suraaj was protesting against the alleged question paper leak in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam, demanding its cancellation.

Mr. Kishor, who was on the fifth day of his fast-unto-death protest, was arrested along with 43 supporters. The Patna District Magistrate stated that the protest was illegal as it took place in a restricted area. Authorities had repeatedly issued notices asking Mr. Kishor and his supporters to relocate to Gardani Bagh, the designated site for protests, but the directives were ignored.

During the arrest, vehicles, including tractors, were seized, and the protestors were forcibly removed. While police denied allegations of manhandling Mr. Kishor, some of his supporters claimed he was slapped and mistreated during the operation. Mr. Kishor was taken to Patna AIIMS for a medical check-up, which he initially resisted.

The BPSC controversy has stirred significant unrest in Bihar. The commission conducted a retest on January 4 for a select group of 12,012 eligible candidates, but only 5,943 appeared for the exam.

The issue has also reached the Supreme Court, where petitioners are seeking the cancellation of the December 13 examination and action against officials accused of using excessive force on protestors. Meanwhile, Mr. Kishor remains firm on his demand for justice and accountability in the alleged question paper leak.