Bihar police's water cannons fail to deter protesters at Tejashwi's Raj Bhavan march

Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav's march to Raj Bhavan over the NEET paper leak and the alleged firing at students in Siwan turned chaotic on Wednesday, with protesters breaching police barricades and security forces using water cannons to disperse them.Tejashwi’s Raj Bhavan march: Protesters dance as police water cannons spray them amid heat (Photo: ITG)RJD leader and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav’s Raj Bhavan march took an unusual turn on Wednesday when police deployed water cannons to disperse protesters, only for several demonstrators to dance and enjoy the spray amid the humid heat. Some women protesters even asked police to turn the water cannons on again, saying they were feeling hot.The march was organised over the NEET paper leak issue and the alleged firing on students with an AK-47 in Siwan. A large number of RJD workers and supporters joined Tejashwi as he led the march from Gandhi Maidan towards Raj Bhavan.The march reached Dak Bungalow Chowk, where police had put up barricades to stop the protesters from proceeding further. A tense standoff followed as several demonstrators climbed onto the barricades and raised slogans against the government. Protesters also tried to remove the barricades. There were allegations that supporters were being urged over a microphone to break through the police cordon.After repeated attempts, protesters initially moved back when they failed to completely breach the barricades. They returned shortly afterwards and managed to break a section of the barricading, following which the procession moved towards Income Tax Chowk. TEJASHWI TAKEN INTO CUSTODYHeavy police deployment was in place at Income Tax Chowk, where Tejashwi Yadav was taken into custody. A large number of RJD supporters gathered around his vehicle following his detention. Tejashwi then appealed to the protesters through a microphone to maintain peace and avoid confrontation with the police.The protesters subsequently moved back, while Tejashwi proceeded towards Raj Bhavan.PROTESTERS DANCE UNDER WATER CANNON SPRAY Even after Tejashwi left for Raj Bhavan, many RJD workers remained at Income Tax Chowk and continued raising slogans against the government.Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters. However, instead of immediately retreating, several demonstrators were seen dancing and enjoying the water spray as temperatures and humidity remained high.The unusual scenes drew attention as protesters appeared to treat the water cannon as temporary relief from the heat.Some women protesters also got into heated arguments with police personnel. In an unusual turn, a few women reportedly asked the police to use the water cannon again, citing the heat.The protest remained tense from Dak Bungalow Chowk to Income Tax Chowk, with protesters breaching barricades, a heavy police presence and water-cannon action marking Tejashwi Yadav’s march to Raj Bhavan.- EndsInputs from Shubham NiralaPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Aug 19, 2026 19:03 IST