India, Aug. 26 -- Thousands of students fought a pitched battle with the Bihar police on Tuesday, hurling stones and braving water cannons and lathi-charge, upon being prevented from marching to the Chief Minister residence to air their grievances.

The protesters, most of them aspirants for Teachers' Recruitment Exams to be conducted by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) next month, had announced a Mukhyamantri Awas gherao (CM residence gherao) to press the demand for holding the written exams in a single stage, instead of prelims followed by mains. A section of the protesters also demanded the cancellation of Combined Competitive Exams held by the BPSC earlier this year, alleging that the tests were marred by irregularities.

The pr...