PATNA: Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Thursday alleged that Bihar Police detained several of his supporters just hours before voting in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll, accusing the ruling BJP of using the police machinery because it feared losing the seat. Kishor, who is contesting the by-election, claimed that more than 16 people associated with his campaign had been picked up ahead of polling. He alleged that the action was taken at the behest of the BJP and questioned why his supporters were being detained at such a crucial stage of the election. The allegations surfaced on polling day, immediately adding a political controversy to the closely watched contest. According to the report, police officials had not immediately responded to Kishor’s allegations, meaning his claims about political pressure had not been independently established at the time.

Kishor linked the alleged police action directly to the electoral battle in Bankipur, claiming the BJP was nervous about the outcome and therefore targeting people working with his campaign. The Jan Suraaj leader has been attempting to expand his party’s political presence in Bihar and the Bankipur bypoll has emerged as an important test for the organisation. His decision to personally enter the contest has also increased attention around the seat. With polling underway, the alleged detention of campaign workers quickly became part of the political narrative surrounding the election. Kishor maintained that the action against his supporters was politically motivated and portrayed it as an attempt to weaken his organisation immediately before voters went to polling stations. The BJP, however, was accused by Kishor; the available report did not establish evidence showing that the party had directed Bihar Police to carry out the alleged detentions.

The controversy comes at a sensitive time as the Bankipur electorate votes to choose its representative, with political parties closely watching turnout and developments on the ground. Kishor’s allegation that his supporters were picked up shortly before voting is likely to keep the focus on the conduct of the administration as well as the political contest itself. For Jan Suraaj, the bypoll is significant because it provides another opportunity to measure the party’s support on the ground after Kishor’s transition from political strategist to active politician. Bankipur, located in Patna, has consequently become a closely watched battleground. The immediate question now is whether Bihar Police will provide a detailed explanation regarding the alleged detentions and the reasons behind them. Until such an official response emerges, the claim that the action was carried out under political pressure remains an allegation made by Kishor. With voting taking place amid the controversy, the final result will also show whether Jan Suraaj has been able to convert its campaign and Kishor’s personal political appeal into electoral support in the constituency.

Tensions flared in the capital city's coaching hub on Wednesday morning after a mob attacked the prominent Khan Global Studies institute late Tuesday night. The establishment, run by popular educator and YouTuber Faisal Khan, widely known as Khan Sir, became the target of a targeted act of vandalism that left a security guard seriously injured and triggered massive student demonstrations on the streets of Musallahpur Haat.

Patna Police have acted swiftly in the matter, arresting three individuals on Wednesday afternoon. Among those taken into custody is Roshan Anand, the director of a rival institution named Gyan Bindu Coaching Institute. Investigators have indicated that the attack was driven by an intense inter-coaching business rivalry following the recent declaration of competitive exam results.

Midnight mayhem at the institute

The incident occurred at approximately 10:10 pm on Tuesday within the Kadamkuan police station limits. According to a written complaint filed by Kanhaiya Kumar Singh, the manager of the coaching centre, a group of 15 to 20 individuals arrived at the spot on foot just as the staff members were preparing to close the facility for the night.

Timeline of the Musallahpur Haat Incident:

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May 27   - Bihar Police Constable results declared

May 31   - Khan Sir's team organises massive 'Samman Samaroh'

June 2   - 10:10 PM: Mob attacks premises, damages billboards

June 3   - 08:00 AM: Protesting students block roads

June 3   - 03:00 PM: Police arrest rival director Roshan Anand

The miscreants initiated heavy stone-pelting, completely destroying the institute's primary display boards and street-corner billboards. When a security guard, identified as Chunchun, attempted to intervene and block the entrance, he was physically assaulted with bricks and blunt objects. He sustained severe head trauma and was rushed by staff members to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), where his condition is currently being monitored by doctors.

Confusion over alleged firing

In the immediate aftermath of the late-night chaos, panic gripped the area following assertions that gunshots had been discharged. Khan Sir initially told reporters at the scene that around 8 to 10 rounds of firing had taken place during the assault.

However, senior administrative officials who camped at the location until 2:00 am have strongly refuted those claims. Town DSP-1 Rajesh Ranjan clarified on Wednesday that an exhaustive review of the available CCTV footage did not corroborate any gunfire.

"There is no evidence or confirmation of firing found in the visual logs or on the ground. The written application submitted by the coaching management also does not state this. It is a clear case of physical assault, rioting, and vandalism of hoarding structures," DSP Ranjan said.

Following the circulation of the footage, the coaching management retracted its initial stance on the gunfire, attributing the early statements to the extreme panic and confusion that unfolded under the cover of darkness.

Mass results trigger commercial grudge

The root cause of the attack reportedly traces back to the final selection results for 19,838 constable positions in the Bihar Police, which were declared on May 27. Khan Global Studies claimed a remarkably high success rate among its applicants, subsequently organizing a grand Bihar Police Samman Samaroh (Felicitation Ceremony) on May 31.

Staff members revealed that the large celebratory gates and banners put up around the premises had become a source of profound friction for competing business entities. Speaking on the matter, Khan Sir alleged that certain private coaching institutions were deeply unsettled by his low-fee structure, which makes quality education accessible to underprivileged students. He stated that threats had been delivered to his staff earlier in the week warning that the centre would be "blown up" within forty-eight hours.

Students hit the streets

The situation escalated on Wednesday morning as hundreds of students gathered outside the vandalised complex. Chanting slogans like "Khan Sir Zindabad," the agitated youth blocked nearby thoroughfares, demanding immediate administrative protection for the educator and stringent legal action against the perpetrators.

Khan Sir eventually came out to address the gathering, appealing for calm and asking the students to clear the public roads. "There will be no classes today. We were not sitting here to fight. Our primary focus right now is ensuring our injured guard receives proper medical care," he announced to the crowd.

Patna SSP Kartikeya Sharma confirmed that additional police contingents have been deployed at key intersections in the coaching district to maintain law and order. The Kadamkuan police have registered the FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). While three prime suspects are now in custody, continuous raids are being executed across Patna to trace the remaining named accused, Prince, along with the other unidentified members of the mob.