Patna students continue protest against coaching institutes

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A group of students went on a rampage early Wednesday at the Bazar Samiti locality here. They thrashed the owner of a private coaching institute, destroyed property, threw stones and tore banners and posters of other institutes.

Angry students from other localities also gathered to protest.

The protests continued a day after one student Sachin Sharma when a coaching centre security guard opened fire here. Half a dozen others were injured in clashes with police Tuesday as over 1,000 students rampaged to protest alleged cheating by the coaching institutes.

The state government has announced an ex gratia of Rs.1.5 lakh to Sharma's family.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ordered Patna District Magistrate Jitendra Prasad to probe the allegations against coaching institutes and assured students that action would be taken against these institutes if they are found guilty. He also directed human resource development officials to look into the issue.

Nitish Kumar also appealed to the students to maintain peace and avoid violent protests.

"The coaching institutes have cheated us. Our plus-two exams are due from early March but the courses have not been completed even though we had paid the full money in advance," said Vikram Kumar Singh, one of the protesting students.

Another student, Shakil Ansari, said that coaching institutes in Patna are minting money in the name of providing help to students. "They have nothing to do with education, it is a totally commercial venture to dupe students," Ansari said.

Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan and Congress leaders condemned the police action against students and criticised the state government for promoting private coaching institutes to exploit students.