Tejashwi Yadav meets with an injured protester in Patna on Sunday (July 26, 2026). | Photo credit: X-pen Tejashwi.
Attacking the Bihar Police for arresting hundreds of people during the Bihar Bandh, state opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday (July 26, 2026) demanded the immediate release of students, opposition MLAs and other protesters, including his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav. If they were not released within 24 hours, he warned the state government that they would again take to the streets in protest.
The Bihar Bandh was called by the All India Students’ Association on Saturday (July 25, 2026). It turned violent in places and led to clashes with police, who opened fire in Siwan and sent hundreds of people to prison. Among those arrested was Mr. Tej Pratap Yadav, who is no longer a member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and has formed his own political group. He was arrested by the Patna police on charges of obstructing government officials in the performance of their duties and sent to 14-day judicial custody in Beur Jail.
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“Yesterday, the Center decided to withdraw all cases against the protesting students and youth (in Delhi). The (Bihar) government should follow suit,” Mr Tejashwi Yadav told reporters at the Patna airport, where he was accompanied by his mother and former chief minister Rabri Devi. “I give Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary 24 hours to release everyone, including my brother, or be prepared to face widespread unrest as students and youth hit the road to protest again,” he added.
“Machine of Power”
The RJD leader also asked the government to take action against police officers who opened fire on students in Siwan on July 25 and also in Jehanabad on July 23.
Blaming Mr. Choudhary for the police action, Mr. Tejashwi Yadav said, “The Chief Minister in Bihar has become a man with a criminal mentality, who has never been voted for and never will be. He cannot silence the voice of the people of Bihar through lathis and power mechanisms.”
Later, the RJD leader visited hospitals where injured protesters were being treated. “In a democracy, peaceful protest is an essential right that allows citizens to express their dissent and ideas while holding unchecked power accountable,” he said in a post on X after meeting with protesters.
“Minors were also arrested”
Student organization member Disha Soma Roy spoke about this. Hindu that many students were arrested by the Patna police, including some minors.
“Since July 22, around 11 cases have been filed at various police stations in the state against the protesting students. Some of them are even minors and their parents have contacted me to inquire about their welfare. The state police should immediately release them as they have been illegally detained,” Ms. Roy said.
Others arrested include Sandeep Saurav, spokesman for the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation of Paliganj; AISA state unit leaders including President Dhananjay, Secretary Dipak Mishra and Vice President Saba Afreen; and student leader Kumar Divyam.
Protest day
At a press conference in Patna, Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA) national president Ajit Kumar Singh, RYA state secretary Shivprakash Ranjan, former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union president Nitish Kumar and other youth leaders launched a scathing attack on the state government. They strongly condemned the police action during the Bihar Bandh and demanded the release of the arrested MLAs and youth leaders.
They announced that July 30 would be observed as Virodh Diwas or protest day in Bihar to protest against the police action and illegal arrest of student leaders, including MLA Mr. Saurav. A massive road blockade is also being planned in Mr. Saurav’s Paliganj Assembly constituency as a show of strength against the government.
Published – Jul 26, 2026 9:59 pm EST.