A law examination was cancelled at Patna University after Patna Law College students ransacked the test centre on Monday.

The students were protesting against the “strict measures” taken by the administration to stop unfair means during the examination.

The violence started at BN College and spread to Patna College and Patna Science College, where chemistry teacher Randhir Kumar was assaulted by protesters.

The violence started around 3.15pm at BN College when fourth-semester students, who were writing their first paper (family and Muslim law) boycotted the examination. The students then reached Patna College, staging a protest against the college and university administration.

Randhir Kumar, a chemistry teacher, received knife injuries on his hand. Soon, Patna Science College turned into a battlefield. Police personnel and district administration reached the campus on receiving information about the violence. The students later blocked Ashok Rajpath for more than an hour. The blockade was lifted only after the intervention of the police. The college administration lodged cases against some students involved in the incident.

BN College principal P.K. Poddar said: “The students were protesting because they were not allowed to use unfair means in the examination.” He added that students even damaged college property.

The students had a different version to say. Ashish Sinha, a former Patna University Students’ Union (Pusu) president and a Patna Law College student who appeared for the examination, said: “The students boycotted the examination because they were not even allowed to turn or talk to others. Many were not even allowed to go to the washrooms.”