A Bihar Police constable has been suspended after he was seen firing an AK-47 rifle during student protests over the NEET paper leak in Siwan district. The action comes after videos of the incident went viral, triggering political criticism and raising questions over the use of such a weapon during crowd control.
Confirming the action on Monday, Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha said Constable Abhishek Kumar has been suspended with immediate effect and departmental proceedings have been initiated against him.
According to the police, the constable, who was attached to the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), fired four rounds into the air while his team was caught in a crowd of protesters near JP Chowk during an unrelated investigation.
District Magistrate Vivek Ranjan Maitrey said the firing was unauthorised.
“He did not have the orders to do so. He should not have fired in the air. Such a weapon should not have been taken in public. The officer was going elsewhere when he got stuck in the commotion,” the District Magistrate said.
The Bihar Police maintained that the constable pointed the rifle upwards while firing to protect lives, public safety and government property.
“No one has been harmed by an AK-47 in this instance. Constable Abhishek has been suspended with immediate effect,” SP Puran Kumar Jha said.
The police also clarified that three people who suffered bullet injuries were found at locations around 1.5 to 2 kilometres away from the site where the constable fired. Separate FIRs have been registered based on their statements, and police said all three are out of danger.
Student Protest Turned Violent
Violence broke out in Siwan on Sunday as students protesting against the alleged NEET paper leak clashed with police while demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Police used tear gas shells and carried out a lathi charge after protesters allegedly resorted to stone-pelting. Similar clashes were reported in Patna during the Bihar bandh called by opposition parties and social organisations over the paper leak controversy and alleged police action against students.
Amid the political fallout, the Bihar government announced that it would withdraw all FIRs, complaints and show-cause notices related to the student protests that occurred before July 26 and release those arrested in connection with the demonstrations.
Rahul Gandhi Slams Centre
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi strongly criticised the BJP-led government over the incident, accusing it of using excessive force against students.
“The entire system is downright murderous against students. News is coming in that AK-47 bullets have been fired at protesting students in Bihar, and hundreds of students have been arrested with FIRs being filed against them,” Gandhi wrote on X.
Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added, “Mr Modi, where did your promise go that no FIRs would be filed against students and they would be released? Instead, deadly attacks and brutality are being unleashed on them.”
Gandhi also referred to the police action during protests in Delhi.
“In Delhi, pellet guns were fired at students, and in Bihar, AK-47s. Whether it’s Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar or Delhi, the pattern is the same everywhere. This government backtracks on its promises and uses every tactic to suppress students’ voices,” he alleged.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also questioned the use of force against student protesters, asking, “Pellet guns, AK-47s—are they terrorists? What was the need for such weapons at the protest site?”
BJP Hits Back
The BJP rejected Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, accusing him of spreading misinformation.
Party spokesperson Sambit Patra questioned Gandhi’s claim, saying, “How can Rahul Gandhi say that AK-47s have been used? This is totally unacceptable. He should apologise to the nation for spreading such canards and falsehoods.”
However, Bihar Police later confirmed that an AK-47 had indeed been fired by the suspended constable, while maintaining that the shots were fired into the air and did not injure anyone. Investigations into the incident are continuing.
