Bihar cop suspended for firing AK-47 at Siwan student protest

A Bihar police constable has been suspended after a video showed him firing an AK-47 during the July 25 Bihar Bandh in Siwan district. The incident happened as tensions rose during student protests over the NEET paper leak. The footage, widely shared on social media, shows the officer, identified as Abhishek Kumar Patel from the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), pointing and firing the weapon during clashes with demonstrators.

Superintendent of Police (SP), Siwan district, Puran Kumar Jha, confirmed on July 27 that the constable was suspended immediately on orders from the Bihar Police Headquarters. Officials said the police had been clearly told not to open fire during the protests. A formal inquiry and departmental proceedings have begun to investigate why the weapon was used.

The Statewide bandh on July 25 was called by Left-wing student groups, including the All India Students’ Association (AISA). They were protesting the NEET-UG exam leak and seeking the resignation of then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Protests became violent in several districts like Patna, Siwan, and Saran, with reports of stone-pelting, damage to police vehicles, and clashes. In Siwan, police and protesters faced off at key spots.

Using an AK-47, which is usually meant for special units dealing with serious criminals, against student protesters has led to strong criticism. Opposition leaders, especially Bihar Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, called the action excessive. He shared the video and accused the State Government of targeting students. Seeing an assault rifle at a civilian protest has raised more concerns about whether police are following proper crowd control procedures.

There are different accounts of the firing. SP Jha said that only aerial firing happened, with about eight to ten rounds from long-range weapons and pistols, and claimed that the constable’s shots did not injure anyone.

However, other reports said three protesters were shot and treated at a hospital in Patna, including a 15-year-old boy who was hit in the neck. Their conditions were later described as stable. Police also reported that some officers, including the SP, were injured by stone-pelting.

Across the State, the bandh led to dozens of FIRs, hundreds of arrests (about 400-450), and damage to public property.

RAF use of pellet gun in Capital under lens

New Delhi: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has found that a member of its Rapid Action Force (RAF), stationed in Connaught Place during the July 20 protest march to Parliament, fired at least seven rounds from a pellet gun. According to sources, five rounds hit protesters, and two hit the ground.

At least three people were treated in hospitals for pellet gun injuries: 25-year-old Irshad Sheikh from Gurugram, 19-year-old Delhi University student Sahil Lochab, who may lose vision in one eye and a 28-year-old journalist from Outlook magazine. On July 22, the CRPF reviewed the role, deployment and conduct of RAF personnel. It flagged that the force gradient did not meet prescribed standards and RAF training requirements. CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh said that a review would be done after the protest ended.