editor_nz
A stir has broken out between two top coaching institutes of Patna, Bihar that is gathering momentum and much noise. From a war of words between popular educators Khan Sir and Raushan Sir it has come to be a serious issue with police probes, arrests, and student protests.
So, what is going on?
It was a late night event outside the Khan Global Studies Centre in Musallahpur Hat, one of the educational hubs of Patna, a few days back. Early reports stated that there had been shooting outside the coaching institute and that one of the security guards had been hurt. The incident led to tension in the area and many students went onto the streets.
Immediately after the incident, Khan Sir had hinted that the incident might be connected with the competition among coaching institutes. He claims there were some who did not like the rise in popularity of the institution and their low fee structure.
As the investigation progressed, police revealed new details. Authorities say the Khan Global Studies Centre was going to be rocked and vandalised. Three persons, including the operator of Gyan Bindu Coaching, Raushan Anand, have been arrested in connection with the case. The FIR had been framed against several others as well.
But it was to be a very dramatic turn.
Once a video of the incident and CCTV footage of the incident became public, the investigation turned to other directions. There were some claims that the video evidence was not conclusive in connection with the first accusations of gunfire. Later, even the allegation of the firing incident was challenged.
In parallel, Gyan Bindu Coaching had posted a video which claimed that Khan Sir’s security guards used firearms during the incident. The video was released after which a second case was filed by the Patna Police and two security guards working for Khan Sir were detained for questioning. Both were then caught.
While being questioned, some of the guards acknowledged that they fired shots on the night of the incident, according to reports. But they said that the firing was done in self-defence during the alleged attack and stone-throwing. Police have since recovered their guns and are still looking into the situation.
Raising their voice of protest, the students of Gyan Bindu Coaching have raised their voice for Raushan Anand. Students have been protesting against his arrest, offering to produce his own medical records and demanding his release, at several locations throughout Patna. Meanwhile, Khan Sir’s party is alleging that their institution has been singled out for attack and demands “stern measures” against the offenders.
The controversy is no longer simply a battle between two teachers or two coaching schools. It has brought up some larger issues regarding the rising competition in the coaching industry in Bihar, safety of the students and the commercialization of education.
The biggest question remains: What really happened that night? Or was it a rivalry between the coaching schools? Did it actually serve as a measure of self-defence? Or is there something more sinister going on with regards to the whole situation?
Police are currently looking into CCTV footage, videos, witness statements and other evidence. The results of the investigation in the days ahead may indicate the real truth of this important controversy.
