Jan Suraaj Party Founder Prashant Kishor Gets Unconditional Bail Hours After Arrest

Patna: Jan Suraj Party founder Prashant Kishor got unconditional bail on Monday, hours after he was sent to 14-day judicial custody in connection with the protest at Patna's Gandhi Maidan. Reports suggested that Kishor will hold a press conference after coming out of jail at 8 pm. Earlier, the Patna police reached the Gandhi Maidan and detained Prashant Kishor in the wee hours of Monday. He was arrested from Gandhi Maidan during his fast-into-death demanding cancellation of the BPSC examination after the alleged paper leak.

According to the police, Kishor and his supporters were removed from the protest site as the demonstration was being held near a restricted area, making it “illegal”. Kishor was arrested on the fifth day of his protest.

Meanwhile, after Kishor's arrest, the protests against the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam continued to gain momentum. The students, who had initially gathered at Gardanibagh, returned to the protest site following Kishor’s detention. More students from across Bihar are expected to join the protests in the coming days, according to a source from the Jan Suraaj party.

Kishor, who has been leading the protests, had previously given a 48-hour ultimatum to the Nitish Kumar -led government, demanding that they resolve the issue. After his arrest, he vowed to continue his fast-unto-death while in jail, stating that his protest would persist until the state government orders a re-test for the BPSC prelims.

The BPSC students have been protesting in Patna since December 18, after raising concerns about the exam held on December 13. They alleged that many examination centres had malfunctioning CCTV cameras and jammers, while question papers were distributed late at some centres. These issues have led to calls for the cancellation of the exam.

Despite the protests, the BPSC has agreed to reschedule the exam only for candidates who appeared at one particular centre in Patna. However, the main demand for a re-test for all affected candidates has not yet been addressed by the government.

The protests turned violent on December 19, when the police used water cannons and lathi charges to disperse the students who tried to break through barricades to march towards the Chief Minister’s residence. As the protests continue, students remain determined to keep up the pressure on the government until their demands are met.

Further details regarding the latest development are being awaited.