India promises more university seats to quell anti-quota stir

A week after police beat medical students with batons in the western city of Mumbai, television stations broadcast images of khaki-clad officers whacking crouching students in white coats in the eastern state of Bihar Friday.

Unlike the students in Mumbai, the Bihar students were for more places for disadvantaged students.

As many as 35 were injured in the clashes, including 20 protesters and four journalists, reports said. Violence started when police turned on the students after they vandalized cars and accused local media of failing to cover the rally.

But anti-quota protesters continued to demand the government scrap plans to reserve more places for the disadvantaged in top universities, even as Indian officials said they will hike the total number of university places.