Kathmandu— Indian students and unemployed youth clashed with police in the eastern state of Bihar as they attempted to march towards the residence of the chief minister, demanding jobs and greater transparency in government recruitment exams. Police used water cannons and batons against an estimated few thousand protesters who broke through security barricades in Patna on Tuesday, according to videos reviewed by Al Jazeera. The demonstrations follow a month of similar protests led by Gen Z activists in New Delhi that resulted in the resignation of India’s education minister.

Escalating Protests and Police Response

The clashes in Bihar involved approximately several thousand protesters who breached security barriers in Patna, prompting police to use water cannons and batons. At least 25 protesters were detained by authorities but later released, according to reports from the Indian Express newspaper. Local police have accused some demonstrators of attacking security personnel and stated they will identify and take action against those involved in throwing stones.

Demands for Job Security and Education Reform

The protests initially began last week with a focus on job creation for unemployed youth, but quickly broadened to include demands for education reform. The tight employment market in India makes government jobs particularly attractive due to the long-term stability they offer. Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary stated that his office is “listening to every student’s voice,” and a delegation of student representatives met with top bureaucrat Pratyaya Amrit, who described the discussion as “positive” and indicated a response within days.

National Context: The 'Cockroach Janta Party' Movement

These demonstrations are part of a wider wave of protests across India sparked by the ‘Cockroach Janta Party,’ an online activist group that organized massive youth-led demonstrations in New Delhi last month. Those earlier protests led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, marking a political setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Similar demonstrations have emerged in other states, challenging both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition parties. In Karnataka, a BJP-linked student group also protested near the chief minister’s residence over alleged irregularities in government job recruitment.

Regional Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari said the government had addressed students' demands, while maintaining an open dialogue with protesters. The Cockroach movement has announced plans for another march next month to protest what they view as unfulfilled promises from the Modi government.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.