School Students Movement in Patna
The Bihar government’s attitude to students’ movement has become increasingly more repressive. In recent times, school students in Patna have become vocal and assertive, vigorously participating in AISA’s struggles on students’ issues as well as in initiatives against US attack on and occupation of Iraq.
On 24 April, Patna witnessed yet another instance of police repression on students. Due to the criminal negligence of the management of private schools in Patna, a student was killed in a fatal school bus crash. Scores of schoolchildren under the banner of AISA erupted in protest, demanding an enquiry into the school’s management, special traffic arrangements for school buses and compensation for the family of the victim. Police lathicharged these peaceful demonstrators, injuring dozens of students, punching and beating up AISA leaders Abhyuday, Navin and Vikas with latis, rifle butts and boots, before arresting them. These injured student leaders were sent to Beur Jail, having had false cases of robbery and arson slapped on them. Ironically, the CJM who hastily put the seal on the challan which sent them to jail, was himself suspended on charges of corruption a few days later!
AISA’s spirited initiative over the past months have made it the target of the Bihar police administration. AISA students including those of BN Collegiate, Miller High School and Pataliputra High School held a militant march against police repression, demanding the unconditional release of the arrested AISA leaders. On 2 May a massive dharna was organized at the Main Gate of Patna University, in which other leftist student-youth organizations as well as AISA participated. On 6th May, a students’ strike was held, in which high school students too boycotted classes.
On 10 May, cultural groups and intelligentsia joined students in a massive protest march which culminated in a mass meeting and cultural programme at the university campus. Cultural groups like Hirawal, IPTA, Prerna, Abhiyan, Dastak and Akshar Arts, as well as stage actor Javed Akhtar, poet Sajina, singer Amitabh and several university professors and cultural activists took part. The participants successfully resisted attempts to disrupt the programme by lumpens belonging to RJD and Ranvir Sena.
Finally, the AISA leaders were released after 25 days.
–Dharmendra Sushant