PATNA, July 26 -- The Bihar bandh called by the All India Students Association (AISA) and other Leftist organisations resulted in clashes between police and protesters, causing bullet injuries to three youths in Siwan district who were later admitted to the Patna Medical College & Hospital (PMCH). As reports about these injured youth spread, the Bihar home department imposed a sweeping ban on social media posts till Sunday 5.30pm. Police reported that around 477 protesters, both male and female, were detained across the state. As of this report, it is unclear whether they have been freed or remain in detention pending further legal action. Over 100 police personnel reportedly sustained injuries. The state government had deployed nearly 70,000 additional police personnel in vulnerable districts and placed Bihar on alert due to protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and the demand for Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. According to reports, the protests turned violent in Patna, Saran, Siwan, Aurangabad and Bhagalpur, while other districts saw mixed response to the bandh call, some staying calm and seeing clashes. Three of the injured protestors having sustained injuries in Siwan have been identified as Akash Kumar (resident of Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh), Mohammad Arif (resident of Sheikh Mohalla, Siwan) and Bullet Kumar Gaund (resident of Darauli, Siwan). Two of them were shot in the neck, while the other sustained a bullet injury in the leg, according to witnesses and people close to them. There were reports of stone-pelting, arson, road blockades, causing injuries to over 100 police personnel, including SPs of Siwan and Sitamarhi. Protesters damaged over 12 vehicles and torched two police vehicles in Saran and Sitamarhi, reports indicated. Siwan SP Puran Kumar Jha confirmed that three student protesters were injured during the protest march in the town but said it was not yet ascertained whether they were hit by police bullets or by firing from the protesters' side. "Police fired in self-defence after some anti-social elements mixed with protesters and fired on police forces at JP Chowk. Some people were injured. We are yet to ascertain whether those injured were hit by bullets in police firing or in firing from the protesters' side, as firing occurred from both sides," the Siwan SP stated. He added that police used 7-8 rounds of live fire and 10 rounds of tear gas shells to control the situation. In neighbouring Saran, protesters damaged and then set a police van on fire near Nagar Palika Chowk in Chhapra Town, vandalised several other vehicles and ran away with barricades. Other districts also reported vandalism and arson, prompting police to use force. In Lakhisarai, students pelted stones at the police, after which police resorted to a lathi-charge and chased the agitators away. In Sitamarhi, a vehicle with the BJP logo was set on fire while protestors attacked the Sitamarhi Collectorate with stones and were dispersed with baton charge. As many as 12 policemen, including Superintendent of Police Amit Ranjan, were injured in the stone-pelting by the protesters, police said. In Aurangabad, three persons including police Havildar Md Matloob Ali and a journalist were injured when a massive protest became violent, broke through the barricades and protesters started pelting stones at Ramesh Chowk at 12 pm. Police said that the injured were rushed to Sadar Hospital and discharged after receiving first aid. Aurangabad SP Upendra Nath Verma said situation turned normal later. In Rohtas, police resorted to lathi-charge after the protesters broke through police barricades, indulged in arson at Post Office Chowk and attacked officials, including DM Deepak Kumar Mishra and SP Raushan Kumar, who were appealing to them to maintain peace during protests. In West Champaran too, there were police-protester clashes. After the stone-pelting, many of the protesters went into hiding in nearby houses to escape the action, which were searched by the police and dozens of protesters were detained. Bettiah (Sadar) sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Vikash Kumar said the situation threatened to spiral out of control after a group of protesters went berserk and resorted to stone-pelting on police without any provocation. "In all, twelve protesters have been detained, while other troublemakers are being identified," the SDM said. In Bhagalpur, a peaceful protest march was initiated from Station Chowk, but as the crowd approached the busy Tilkamanjhi crossing, some students blocked the road and pelted stones at police personnel and overturned a police vehicle near the protest site. Police had to baton charge to disperse the crowd. "Students pelted stones and vandalised two police vehicles. No persons were injured. We have identified several people through CCTV footage. Severalprotesters have been detained and strict action will be taken against them," said Bhagalpur SSP Pramod Kumar Yadav. In Jehanabad, which had witnessed violent students' agitation on Thursday with stone pelting at the DM residence and firing over 30 rounds by the police, remained peaceful on Saturday. Police conducted flag march and ensured heavy deployment of forces across the district. In Patna, protesters pelted stones and bricks at police personnel at Dak Bungalow intersections, Gandhi Maidan, Exhibition Road and burst a fire cracker inside the traffic post near Gandhi Maidan. Dakbungalow intersections remained blocked for about three hours. Protestors turned down two police vehicles. "Protesters pelted stones at us. They even tried to break the barricades. We have detained several students. We will trace the troublemakers and take appropriate action," said Patna SSP Kartikeya K Sharma. Seemanchal districts remained largely peaceful with some protests witnessed in Purnea district where police had to resort to mild lathi-charge to disperse troubling protesters. In Darbhanga, the shutdown received significant support from local residents and several private educational institutions, which voluntarily remained closed. Protesters led by RYA and AISA leaders, and members of the Kisan Sabha took out a protest march from Mirzapur Chowk to Income-Tax Chowk, halting traffic at the key intersection.Meanwhile, AISA and RYA cadres blocked National Highway 122 near Tajpur, Samastipur, reports said. A massive student-youth march was held in Ara on Saturday in support of the Bihar bandh. The march, which began from Ramna Maidan, passed through various routes in the city and reached the bus stop on the Ara-Patna main road, where protesters blocked the road to register their protest. According to witness and reports, a number of protesters too sustained injuries across the state in the agitation on Saturday. When asked, the police officers refused to divulge the count....