Patna: Deputy CM and water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary on Thursday told the state assembly that action would be taken against “anti-social elements” allegedly involved in violence and attacks on MLAs during students’ protests over educational reforms, NEET and paper leaks in Patna and other parts of Bihar on Wednesday.He said those responsible would be identified through CCTV footage and video recordings. “CM Samrat Choudhary has directed that such an exercise be carried out and the directive will be implemented,” he said during a discussion in the House after the passage of the Appropriation Bill linked to the first supplementary budget for 2026-27.Choudhary said the govt’s assessment was that anti-social elements had infiltrated the students’ movement and carried out attacks on public representatives and journalists. Referring to concerns over NEET paper leaks, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre and the state govt were taking the issue seriously and that inquiries and speedy trials would be conducted through special courts.He added that Bihar’s Crime Control Bill, 2026, classifies paper leaks as a serious offence. The bill has already been passed by both Houses of the state legislature and is set to become law.The discussion was initiated by senior BJP MLA and former minister Pramod Kumar on the direction of Speaker Prem Kumar. JD(U) MLA Shyam Babu and members of other NDA constituents also participated.Earlier, opposition MLAs from the RJD, Congress, CPI(ML), CPM and IIP staged a walkout and skipped the discussion. They were protesting police action against students demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy.The assembly witnessed noisy scenes during the day as NDA and opposition members clashed over the issue, forcing Speaker Prem Kumar to adjourn the House shortly after proceedings began. The Speaker appealed to members to maintain decorum, saying the House was “not a battlefield”.BJP MLA Shyam Babu Yadav, whose vehicle was allegedly vandalised during the protests, claimed the attackers were not students. “I was attacked. My guards were attacked. I could have been killed. They were goons belonging to a political party,” he said.RJD MLAs termed the incidents a dark chapter in the assembly’s history and accused ruling party members of branding student protesters as “goons”. Parliamentary affairs minister Shrawan Kumar alleged that political parties had instigated the agitation and said action would be taken against anyone found guilty.
