JJD Leader Tej Pratap Yadav Taken Into Custody Following Bihar Bandh Unrest
Indiadailyupdate.com – Patna police have detained Janshakti Janata Dal national president Tej Pratap Yadav on Saturday night. The arrest stems from accusations that he encouraged demonstrators during violent episodes of vandalism and arson that occurred earlier that day across Bihar.
Arrest Details and Court Proceedings
A Patna court subsequently ordered 14 days of judicial custody for the politician. According to law enforcement, CCTV recordings captured during the demonstrations revealed Tej Pratap actively urging protesters to continue their actions. Acting on this evidence, officers apprehended him at a commercial establishment in the capital city.
Supporters of the JJD leader have criticized authorities for failing to clearly communicate the specific charges brought against him. His legal representative, Jagannath Singh, announced plans to submit a bail application on Monday to secure his client’s release from custody.
Background of the Bihar Bandh
The statewide shutdown was organized by Left-wing student groups protesting two main issues: an alleged leak in the NEET examination question paper and subsequent police measures targeting student demonstrators. Several districts experienced heightened tensions, with Patna, Saran, Siwan, Aurangabad, and Bhagalpur among the hardest-hit areas.
During the unrest, Tej Pratap Yadav made his way to Ram Gulam Chowk, located close to Gandhi Maidan in Patna. He participated alongside demonstrators before being briefly held by police and subsequently freed.
“The children’s demands are legitimate. The government must fulfil their demands, and we stand firmly with them. I am ready to lay down my life for the students and youth,” Yadav told reporters at the time.
Police Response and Further Developments
Law enforcement officials maintained heightened vigilance throughout the demonstrations. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya K. Sharma provided updates to the media regarding the situation.
“They pelted us with stones. They even tried to break the barricades. We have detained several students. Police are on high alert. We will identify the troublemakers and take appropriate action against them,” SSP Sharma stated.
Concurrently, Bihar Assembly Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav raised concerns about police conduct in Siwan district. He accused law enforcement of discharging weapons directly at demonstrators and directed criticism toward Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary regarding the episode.
Posting what he claimed was video evidence on social media platform X, Tejashwi Yadav wrote: “During the protest in Siwan, police resorted to direct firing with an AK-47 on students. When a criminal becomes chief minister, the police fire bullets at innocent students.”
Government officials have yet to verify Tejashwi Yadav’s claims regarding the alleged police firing incident in Siwan.
