New Delhi: Political strategist and activist Prashant Kishor, founder of Jan Suraaj, has been sent to jail after refusing to sign a bail bond following his arrest during a hunger strike in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan. Kishor had been protesting against the alleged question paper leak in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination, demanding its cancellation. The hunger strike, now in its fifth day, has drawn significant attention to the issue.

Authorities declared the protest illegal due to its location in a restricted area. The Patna District Magistrate reported issuing multiple notices urging Kishor and his supporters to relocate to the designated protest site at Gardani Bagh. Despite the warnings, the demonstration continued, leading to the detention of Kishor and 43 supporters, along with the seizure of vehicles. While the police denied allegations of manhandling, Kishor’s supporters claimed he was mistreated during the arrest. He was taken to Patna AIIMS for a medical check-up, which he initially resisted.

The BPSC controversy has sparked public outrage, with only 5,943 out of 12,012 eligible candidates attending the retest conducted on January 4. The matter has reached the Supreme Court, where petitioners are seeking the cancellation of the December 13 exam and an investigation into allegations of excessive force used against protestors. Kishor’s protest and arrest have intensified debates about accountability and transparency in state-level examinations.