Bihar Police briefly detain 6-year-old from protest who questioned police excesses
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The brief detention of a six-year-old boy by the Bihar Police during a protest in Patna seeking the cancellation of the BPSC examination drew widespread criticism, as the boy could be heard speaking eloquently against the irregularities and paper-leak allegations surrounding the examination and against the government, prompting critics to question whether the government is so afraid of even a six-year-old boy.
The boy, identified as Aditya, had arrived at the protest at Dak Bungalow Chowk with his mother, holding a poster in support of the students who have been protesting against alleged irregularities in the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) preliminary examination.
Several videos circulating on social media showed police taking the boy away from the protest site, yet the police denied the allegation that the boy was detained as a protester and justified the action, saying that he was taken to a police station for his own safety, leading critics to question why they did not release the boy at the site and why he was taken to the police station.
A police officer further said that the boy’s mother and her husband were advised to be more careful with the child, as he should not have been allowed to move around in an area where trouble had broken out.
Aditya had drawn attention at the protest because of his outspoken comments, as a viral video showed him speaking against police excesses, saying that if the police used lathis, he would be the first in line and that he would willingly go to jail if everyone was arrested. He also accused the government of corruption and demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation.
In another video, the boy questioned a police officer over the use of force against students and said police personnel should be booked under IPC Section 307 for allegedly hitting students on the head with lathis.
The incident drew criticism from several quarters. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the Bihar government over the treatment of protesting students and said their questions about examination irregularities and paper leaks could not be silenced through batons and water cannons.
The incident has also brought attention to the growing participation of Gen Alpha in protests and civic movements, with schoolchildren increasingly speaking out on issues concerning education, infrastructure and basic civic amenities.