During the Bharat Bandh called by some Dalit and Adivasi groups in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on the creamy layer in SC/ST reservations, protests were held across various places, including Patna. In some areas, the police had to resort to lathi-charge (baton charge) to control the situation. During the chaos, a police officer accidentally hit Patna SDM Shrikant Kundalik Khandekar with a baton.
Shrikant Khandekar is an IAS officer from the 2020 batch. After completing his training as an Assistant Collector, his first posting was as an SDM in Patna. Originally from Solapur, Maharashtra, Khandekar holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from Dapoli Agricultural University. He cleared the UPSC exam on his first attempt, securing the 33rd rank nationwide.
Mixed Impact of Bharat Bandh in Bihar
The Bharat Bandh called by various Dalit and Adivasi organizations had a mixed impact in Bihar. In some districts, road and train services were disrupted, and the police had to use mild force to disperse the protesters. Demonstrators blocked train services at Darbhanga and Buxar railway stations, and also attempted to obstruct road traffic in Patna, Hajipur, Darbhanga, Jehanabad, and Begusarai. The police had to intervene with a mild lathi-charge to restore order.
At Darbhanga and Buxar railway stations, protesters halted trains like Bihar Sampark Kranti and Farakka Express for a while. However, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police managed to disperse the crowd and restore normalcy.
Eastern Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra informed that train services were briefly disrupted at locations like Ara, Chausa (Buxar), Darbhanga, Begusarai, and Rajgir. The situation was quickly brought under control, and train operations resumed to normal.
