More than 300 candidates, who had applied for sub-inspector posts in Bihar police, on Friday staged a violent protest at Kargil Chowk demanding cancellation of the examination held on March 11.

Candidates alleged that the question paper was leaked. The candidates who were protesting against the state government even pelted stones at buses, autorickshaws and shops. The protest, which started at 2pm and continued for half an hour, was brought under control after police lathicharged on the protesters.

A police team led by town deputy superintendent of police S.H. Hashmi reached the spot and issued orders for the lathi-charge. Dinkar Prasad, a candidate who had applied for the post, said: "We were staging a silent protest but on the instructions of senior police officers, the cops reached the spot and lathi-charged. Around two dozen candidates suffered injuries in the incident." Text by Roshan Kumar, picture by Manoj Kumar