- Coaching centres Khan Global and Gyan Bindu clash over Bihar Police exam results claims
- Conflict rooted in control of Musallahpur's Kisan Cold Storage coaching campus
- Both centres accuse each other of instigating violence and using hostel residents
The controversy surrounding coaching centres in Bihar's Patna shows no signs of subsiding even after six days. Developments keep emerging one after another. While Raushan Anand of Gyan Bindu Coaching is in jail, Khan Sir faces the looming threat of arrest.
What lies at the heart of the conflict between two prominent coaching centres - Khan Global Studies, and Gyan Bindu GS Academy - located in Patna's Musallahpur coaching hub? How did this entire dispute begin? NDTV investigated the matter.
Over the past few days, NDTV spoke with teachers, staff and educators associated with both Khan Sir and Gyan Bindu Coaching, residents of Musallahpur and students. These conversations revealed many versions of the story behind the dispute.
The investigation traced the root of the conflict to the results of the Bihar Police recruitment examination. Both coaching centres claimed credit for a large number of successful candidates, one claiming 12,000 and the other 10,000. Tension escalated as associates from both institutes tore down each other's posters, eventually leading to physical fights.
The results for 24 forest range officer posts were declared in February. Abhishek Kumar alias Abhishek Patel topped the list. Immediately, after the results were announced, both coaching centres claimed him as their student and even produced records to back their claims. Khan Sir asserted that 18 of the 24 successful candidates were from his institute. Raushan Anand also laid claim to the topper.
On March 28, Abhishek Patel visited Khan Sir to be felicitated, an act that angered Raushan Anand and which prompted him to make public his WhatsApp chats with Abhishek Patel in which the student was seen discussing the course with him. Raushan Anand accused Khan Sir of "buying" the topper for Rs 10 lakh.
Abhishek Patel has denied the allegations. While this particular dispute garnered significant media attention, it was not the only conflict between the two. Every year, following the declaration of the Bihar Police sub-inspector exam results, a debate intensifies regarding the toppers and the number of successful candidates.
Battle For Control
An area by the name 'Kisan Cold Storage' which acts as a campus lies at the heart of this entire controversy. Located in Musallahpur, Kisan Cold Storage has long been known as a coaching hub. Until 2018-19, the campus housed around 20 coaching centres of various sizes. Gyan Bindu Coaching Centre and Khan Global Studies also operate from there. Many shut down after the COVID-19 pandemic. By that time, Khan Sir had already gained significant popularity.
In 2019, bombs were thrown at Khan Sir's coaching centre. In 2023, Raushan Anand's brother was attacked, a display board was smashed, and he was injured in the head. It needed eight stitches.
Clearly, the incidents of violence have a history here. While the recent dispute may have been triggered by the removal or installation of posters, there is a long backstory to it - one where the ultimate objective is to gain control over the entire coaching market.
