Patna: A planned march by Bihar Police driver aspirants towards the CM’s residence was stopped on Friday before it could begin with police detaining several protesters near Gate No 10 of Gandhi Maidan. Security personnel dispersed the gathering and erected barricades. Those detained were released in the evening.The candidates said they had planned a peaceful kalash yatra, followed by a foot march to the CM’s residence, with prior permission. They intended to carry “soop” baskets, kalash associated with Chhath Puja and the national flag.The protesters are demanding that more than 1,200 vacancies remaining in the women’s category of Bihar Police driver recruitment be filled by eligible male candidates from corresponding categories, if recruitment rules permit.They have been staging a sit-in at Gardanibagh for several days.Ranjit, one of the protesters, said the prolonged agitation was also putting pressure on candidates from their families.“People at home have started saying that we are neither studying nor doing anything else, and are simply sitting on a protest. But if we do not fight for our rights, who will?” he asked.Ranjit urged the govt to consider male applicants for vacancies left unfilled after the women’s allocation. He also questioned why a similar approach could not be adopted in driver recruitment, as in the police sub-inspector recruitment process.Gandhi Maidan SHO Akhilesh Kumar Mishra said, “The protesters had gathered illegally at the maidan. They didn’t have the permission to protest. Some individuals were detained, but later released on bail bond.”
