Bihar: Protesting railway job aspirants set train on fire in Gaya, Patna's Khan Sir, others booked for inciting violence

New Delhi: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has appleade to the protesting students in Bihar not to take law and order into their hands and assured that their demands will be addressed seriously.

The assurance came from the ministry after students alleged irregularities in the Non-Technical Popular Categories Level 1 exams conducted by the Railways Recruitment Board.

"I request students not to take the law into their hands. We will seriously address the grievances and concerns raised by them," he said, while addressing a press briefing here.

Vaishnaw added that all Railway Recruitment Board chairmen have been asked to listen to the concerns of students, compile them and send them to the committee.

"The committee will go to different parts of the country and listen to grievances," he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Railway Ministry had cancelled the examinations of Non-Technical Popular Categories & Level 1 of Railway Recruitment Board in wake of students' protest.

A five-member committee has been formed to look into the matter and listen to the candidates who cleared or failed.

"A high-power committee has been formed to look into the concerns and doubts raised by candidates in regard to results of 1st Stage Computer Based Test (CBT) of Centralised Employment Notification (CEN) 01/2019 of Non Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) issued by Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) on January 14 and 15, 2022," the Railways said in a statement here.

The Ministry said the students can submit their grievances before the committee till February 16.

"The committee will examine the grievances and submit its recommendations before March 4," it said.

Vaishnaw also urged the aspirants not to destroy their "own property". "I appeal to all students not to get involved in damaging rail or other properties. There is no political issue. The exam was done with all transparency," the Railway Minister said.

In Bihar, thousands of students who appeared for Railway Recruitment Board's (RRB's) Non-Technical Popular Categories exam 2021, staged a protest, vandalised a train and set it on fire in Bihar's Gaya. Many trains were also blocked in many places in Bihar.

Police had to release several rounds of tear gas to stop the miscreants, police said.

"Situation under control now. They have set it (coach/train) on fire, we have identified some of them," said Gaya Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Aditya Kumar.

The results of RRB NTPC for CBT-1 exam were released on January 15 for shortlisting the candidates for CBT-2.

The aspirants alleged discrepancies in the results of Railway Recruitment Board (RRB).

An FIR has been filed against famous YouTuber Khan Sir and others for inciting violence during a protest. (Inputs from UNI)