75 injured in pitched battle between ABVP workers and police

About 75 people, including the senior superintendent of police of Patna, policemen and ABVP workers were injured in police lathicharge and stone throwing by protestors who were stopped from entering the assembly to protest against "deterioration" in education system in Bihar.

At least 40 policemen and a magistrate were injured in the stone-throwing by the protestors at R-block near the assembly, SSP Jitendra Rana told PTI.

Police fired several rounds in air to control the situation.The SSP, who received hand injuries, was seen leading the security force holding a pistol and firing in the air to disperse the ABVP protestors who forced open the iron gate to reach the assembly as part of its 'Vidhan Sabha March'.

The march from Gandhi Maidan to assembly had been organised to protest against the "deterioration of education system in Bihar".

Visuals beamed on many private TV news channels showed policemen hitting many protestors with their batons, while blood was seen oozing out of a policeman's head after being hit by a stone.

Following the clash over 12 BJP legislators, including state party chief Mangal Pandey trooped out of the assembly in support of the ABVP workers.

They were, however, stopped by the police who were seen pushing and shoving the legislators.

The BJP Legislators then sat on the street outside the assembly entrance and shouted anti-government slogans to protest against the lathicharge on ABVP workers.
Later, Rana said over 20 people were taken into custody for the violence.Union minister of state for Micro, Small and Medium Industries Giriraj Singh and BJP MLA Nitin Navin visited the injured ABVP workers at Patna Medical College and Hospital.

Navin said at least 10 ABVP workers had received serious injuries in the police lathicharge and 25 others sustained minor ones.