Bihar constable suspended after using AK-47 at student protest

 

A Bihar police constable has been suspended for firing an AK-47 rifle at protesting students in Siwan district on July 25, officials said Monday. The video of the constable using the weapon went viral on social media.

Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha said the constable was a part of the District Intelligence Unit, he was suspended immediately and faces departmental proceedings. No one was injured in the firing, Jha said. However, PTI could not independently verify the video's authenticity.

Jha said an inquiry has been opened to determine the circumstances of the shooting, noting that the police had been explicitly instructed not to open fire during the demonstration.

The protest was part of a broader Bihar Bandh called by Left-wing student organizations on July 25 over the NEET paper leak and police action against demonstrating students. Clashes broke out in multiple districts, including Patna, Saran, Siwan, Aurangabad, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Purnia and Bhojpur, while Samastipur, Nawada, Nalanda, Madhubani and Sheikhpura saw milder unrest.

In Patna, the protesters threw stones and bricks at the policemen near Dak Bungalow crossing, leading to the detention of several students.

The Bihar Leader of Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav condemned the Siwan incident. He accused the police force of directly firing on students with an AK-47. In a post on X, Yadav blamed Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, whom he has repeatedly described as facing accusations in seven murder cases saying such violence against students was the result of a person with that background leading the state.

(with inputs from PTI