In Patna Student Protests, Demonstrators Mock Police: ‘Sir, Is Tear Gas Unavailable?’

A video capturing protesters mockingly responding to police repression during a student movement in Patna, India, has gone viral on social media. While protesting irregularities in the education system and examination processes, young demonstrators faced police use of force yet responded with laughter and dance. Following violent clashes, the Patna police registered 20 FIRs, arrested 56 individuals, and identified an additional 177 suspects.

On 9th Shrawan in Kathmandu’s calendar, police attempted to quell the protest with tear gas, but the participating youth turned the suppression into mockery. A young protester jokingly addressed a police officer: “Sir! Don’t you have tear gas available? It looks like you came unprepared.” Others nearby chanted, “Water cannon!” shortly before police deployed water cannons. Rather than fleeing, many protesters embraced the spray, dancing and laughing in the water. This unusual scene from the Bihar capital has sparked widespread discussion online.

The video, showing youth satirizing police force, has been widely shared. The protest in Patna is linked to the extension of student movements originating from Delhi, especially the Jantar Mantar protests. On July 20, the Cuckroach Janata Party (CJP) called for a march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament, addressing various educational issues including examination irregularities. Tensions escalated when protesters tried to break police barricades, resulting in baton charges and tear gas deployment. Images and videos of police using force circulated extensively on social media that day, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s departure from Parliament during the ongoing monsoon session.

On July 22, students led by the All India Students Association (AISA) organized the “Lok Bhavan March” in Patna. AISA is affiliated with the Indian Communist Party (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation. Protesters voiced objections against leaked exam question papers, issues in the education system, and commercialization of education, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The march began at Gandhi Maidan but was stopped by police near the Governor’s residence, intensifying the confrontation. Police responded with tear gas, water cannons, and baton charges. The march was led by CPI (ML) Liberation legislator and former AISA national secretary Sandeep Saurabh, who publicly questioned the repression by the Modi government and Delhi police, calling for the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah.

One remarkable moment from the Patna protests captured public attention: despite police employing water cannons, some youth did not flee but rather encouraged police to continue spraying water and tear gas. A video posted on the Instagram page of a news outlet shows a protester poking fun at police, saying, “Sir! Don’t you have tear gas available? It looks like you arrived unprepared.” The other youths chant, “Water cannon!” The water spray turned from an instrument of repression into a brief reprieve from the intense heat, transforming the police’s method of suppression into a source of amusement and resistance. This irony drove the video’s viral popularity.

The protests also showcased the use of Bhojpuri songs as political expression beyond slogans. A Bhojpuri song titled “Mantriya Kursi Daile Ba” released on the YouTube channel Chakand Wale satirizes issues like unemployment, leaked examinations, and youth frustrations concerning their future. The lyrics depict the plight of unemployed youths facing police baton charges while government officials who fail to address youth issues refuse to relinquish power. Thus, alongside street protests, songs, satire, and social media memes have become alternative vehicles for youth dissatisfaction.

During the protests, another notable occurrence was some demonstrators lifting and removing police barricades. Despite 20 FIRs and 56 arrests, the protests also involved violent elements. Police reported attacks using stones, damage to vehicles and public property, and assaults on civilians and journalists. The following day, Patna police launched extensive investigations, registering 20 FIRs, arresting 56 people, and identifying 177 suspects through videos and CCTV footage. Authorities are intensifying efforts to apprehend those involved in stone-pelting, vandalism, and attacks on security personnel. Due to rising tension, Bihar police headquarters canceled all regular leave for police personnel effective from July 24 until further notice.

While confrontations between police and protesters in Patna turned violent, youth creatively used humor and satire as forms of resistance amid repression. The repeated question to police, “Sir, is tear gas unavailable?” stands as a striking example of this defiant spirit.