PATNA: An alleged instance of an AK-47 being used by a policeman during a student protest in Bihar’s Siwan has become the latest flashpoint in the state’s already heated political battle over the NEET paper leak, police action against protesters and the handling of the subsequent unrest.The controversy erupted after a purported video surfaced on social media showing a police constable allegedly using an AK-47 rifle during a student protest in Siwan on July 25.Siwan superintendent of police Puran Kumar Jha confirmed that the constable, posted with the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), had been suspended with immediate effect and departmental proceedings initiated against him.The police have maintained that no one was injured in the firing and that an inquiry has been ordered to establish the circumstances in which the rifle was used. The SP also said there were clear instructions to the police force not to open fire during the demonstration.The episode has nevertheless acquired a much larger political dimension, with RJD leader and Bihar leader of opposition Tejashwi Yadav demanding a judicial inquiry and questioning who authorised the use of an AK-47.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has also attacked the government, alleging that AK-47 bullets were fired at protesting students in Bihar.The controversy comes against the backdrop of a broader crackdown following protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and demands for the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.According to police, the July 25 Bihar bandh witnessed violence in several parts of the state, with protesters allegedly clashing with security personnel and damaging government property.The AK-47 episode has now become a potent political flashpoint with the opposition attacking the Bihar government, even as the police action against protesters and the detention of students has added another layer to the confrontation.
How the AK-47 controversy unfolded
- July 22: Students held protests in Bihar demanding action over the alleged NEET paper leak and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Police registered multiple FIRs across Patna and arrested several protesters.
- July 25: A statewide Bihar bandh was called over the NEET paper leak and police action against protesting students. Demonstrations and clashes were reported in several districts, including Patna, Saran, Siwan, Aurangabad, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Purnia and Bhojpur.
- July 25 — Siwan: During the student protest, a purported video showed a police constable using an AK-47 rifle.
- July 25 — Police action: Police used tear gas and lathicharge in parts of the state after reports of stone-pelting and clashes. In Patna, protesters allegedly vandalised and overturned police vehicles during the bandh.
- July 26: The issue of the alleged AK-47 firing became a political flashpoint. Tejashwi Yadav visited injured protesters from Siwan at Medanta Hospital and demanded action against the police personnel allegedly involved in the firing.
- July 27 — Police action against constable: Siwan SP Puran Kumar Jha confirmed that the constable had been suspended with immediate effect and departmental proceedings initiated.
What has made the AK-47 incident politically explosive?
For the Opposition, the alleged use of an AK-47 during a student protest has transformed what was already a contentious confrontation over the NEET paper leak into a broader debate about the use of force against protesters.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government was using “extreme force” to suppress student voices, while Tejashwi Yadav described the incident as unprecedented and demanded accountability beyond the suspension of the constable.
Tejashwi’s central question: Who ordered the firing?
The RJD leader has argued that suspending the constable alone does not answer the larger question of responsibility. He demanded a judicial probe and asked whether the superintendent of police, the home minister or the chief minister had authorised the action.“On whose orders were AK-47 bullets fired?” Yadav asked, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the firing must be investigated independently. He also questioned whether proper crowd-control protocol had been followed.
Rahul Gandhi turns the Bihar incident into a national political attack
Rahul Gandhi used the AK-47 incident to attack the Narendra Modi-led government, alleging a wider pattern of force against students in different states.In a post on X, he claimed that AK-47 bullets had been fired at protesting students in Bihar and referred to alleged use of pellet guns against students in Delhi.His intervention has widened the political frame of the Bihar incident, taking it beyond the state government’s handling of the protest and linking it to the Opposition’s broader criticism of the Centre’s response to student movements.Advocates, however, alleged that nearly 200 students remained detained for more than 24 hours across different police stations and claimed that some families had not been informed. Police maintained that arrests were made in connection with cases involving violence and that those accused were dealt with according to law.This dispute over arrests has further intensified the political confrontation.(With agency inputs)
