Six-year-old boy detained during Bihar student protest, sparking outrage
Rahul Gandhi, others question police action as demonstrators face crackdown
Patna: A six-year-old boy was briefly detained by police during a student protest in Patna, Bihar, against irregularities in the BPSC examination, sparking outrage and criticism over the police action against the child who was accompanying his mother and holding a poster in support of the protesting students.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the boy, identified as Aditya, had arrived at the protest with his mother and was holding a poster supporting students protesting irregularities in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination. Videos circulating on social media show police personnel taking him away from the protest site at Dak Bungalow Chowk.
Protesters are demanding the cancellation and re-conduct of the 70th BPSC preliminary examination across the state, citing irregularities and paper-leak controversies at certain centers. On Tuesday, police launched a crackdown on students and job aspirants marching towards the chief minister’s residence, using water cannons and lathis. Several protesters were detained, while some protesters and police personnel were injured.
The six-year-old boy reportedly drew attention at the protest with his outspoken comments. Several videos circulating on social media show Aditya speaking to journalists and expressing support for the protesting students. In one clip, he said, “If the police use lathis, I’ll be the first in line. If we are all arrested, I will willingly go to jail as well.” He also accused the government of corruption and called for the chief minister’s resignation.
In another video, he was seen questioning a police officer over the use of excessive force against students, saying, “you people should be booked for hitting students on the head with lathis.”
The incident has drawn strong reactions online, with many questioning why a six-year-old child was removed from a protest simply for holding a poster in support of the demonstrators.
Reacting to the video of the boy’s detention, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the Bihar government’s handling of the protests. “The students of Bihar have a very straightforward question — why the irregularities in recruitment exams? Why no action on allegations of paper leaks? And how long will this tampering with the future of the youth continue?,” he asked.
Gandhi said the BPSC controversy was not new, noting that students had been protesting for months over the recruitment process, exam pattern, delays and transparency. “But instead of answering, what is the government doing? It’s wielding batons and water cannons. It’s taking students into custody,” he said.
He also referred to reports of firing during protests in Siwan, saying that an AK-47 was used against protesters. Gandhi said the government could not silence students through force. “Questions don’t stop with batons. You can’t snatch away someone’s future by instilling fear.”
Cockroach Janta Party founder and convenor Abhijeet Dipke also criticized the child’s detention, writing on X: “World’s largest democracy detaining a 6 year old.”
