The Bihar government announced the withdrawal of all First Information Reports and release of protesters detained up to July 26, 2026, following violent demonstrations over the NEET paper leak. The decision arrived after student groups threatened renewed agitation, resolving a high-stakes standoff across Patna and New Delhi.
The standoff between student demonstrators and state authorities in Bihar reached a turning point late on Monday, July 27, 2026, when the state government officially agreed to drop criminal charges and release individuals jailed during widespread unrest. According to the state’s Home Department, no adverse legal action—punitive or retaliatory—will be pursued against anyone who participated in the demonstrations prior to 6 p.m. on July 26, 2026.
The announcement defused an escalating political crisis sparked by protests against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test undergraduate paper leak issue. Student organizations and political leaders had spent days demanding accountability, leading to tense confrontations that drew nationwide attention and sharp criticism from opposition figures.
Bihar Home Department Statement and Arrest Totals
Ahead of the government’s reversal, the Bihar Police released detailed statistics regarding the unrest that surrounded the July 25 statewide shutdown called by Left-wing student unions. Law enforcement reported that 694 people had been detained across the state during the demonstrations.
Of those detained, 339 individuals identified as minors and students were released following age verification. However, 355 others faced formal court proceedings for alleged involvement in violent activities. The clashes resulted in injuries to 91 police personnel and officials, two administrative officers, and 13 civilians. Thirteen government vehicles were vandalized, and one was set on fire.
The violence exacted a heavy toll on local administrators. The Superintendents of Police for Siwan and Sitamarhi, several Station House Officers, and two Block Development Officers sustained severe injuries. One Block Development Officer lost an eye while another suffered a critical head injury during the clashes.
Pressure From Student Groups and the Delhi Agreement
The state government’s decision to drop the cases followed intense pressure from youth and student organizations, including the Cockroach Janta Party and the All India Students’ Association. These groups had maintained an indefinite protest in New Delhi since June 21, culminating in a demonstration at Jantar Mantar and a subsequent agreement with Union government interlocutors.
Following that central agreement, student leaders accused state administrations of breaching terms by executing mass arrests. AISA president Neha Bora traveled to Patna and met with Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar, warning that Bihar could witness protests similar to those in Delhi if incarcerated students were not freed immediately.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka similarly condemned the arrests on social media, pointing out that hundreds of students remained jailed across Bihar and West Bengal despite assurances from central authorities.
Accusations of Wrongful Arrests and Police Force in Siwan
As families and legal advocates scrambled to secure releases, troubling accounts emerged regarding the nature of the arrests. Relatives of jailed students maintained that many individuals swept up by police had no connection to the riots and were merely caught near protest sites.
Public outrage also intensified following the circulation of video footage from Siwan. Chowk. In response to the public outcry, the Bihar Police suspended the officer and initiated a departmental inquiry.
Political Fallout and What Lies Ahead
The unrest surrounding the NEET paper leak had already reshaped national politics, with protests demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Education Minister.
In Bihar, opposition figures welcomed the withdrawal of FIRs as a necessary retreat by the administration. CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya shared the Home Department’s order online, characterizing the outcome as another victory for grassroots agitation.
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