A Bihar police constable was suspended after a video purportedly showed him firing an AK-47 rifle during a student protest in Siwan, where demonstrations linked to the July 25 Bihar Bandh over NEET paper irregularities turned violent.

Police said the constable, Abhishek Patel, was posted with the District Intelligence Unit and was suspended with immediate effect after the clip went viral, while departmental proceedings were also initiated.

A petition has since been filed in the Supreme Court by Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha seeking action over the incident.

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The smoking rifle

The video showed the constable in a blue helmet and bulletproof vest moving towards protesters, with at least one shot heard and seen in the footage.

At least four to five rounds were believed to be fired, though only one shot was visible in the video. Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha confirmed the suspension and told PTI that “the constable, posted with the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), has been suspended with immediate effect” and that departmental proceedings had begun.

Jha also said, “There were clear instructions to the police force not to open fire during the demonstration.”

Politics enters the fray, as expected

The incident has since expanded into a political confrontation. BJP MP Sambit Patra accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of spreading misinformation and trying to inflame unrest, even as the police personnel had already been suspended.

Patra called it “a matter of great shame” that a leader of the opposition had made such claims against the police and demanded an apology, arguing that police forces had never used AK-47 rifles against protesters.

Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, used the episode to criticize the government, saying students were facing excessive force, referring to the alleged use of pellet guns in Delhi and AK-47 fire in Bihar.

As the dust settles, the probe begins

Police said a probe had been launched to determine the circumstances under which the rifle was fired and whether the action followed established protocols.

The Siwan clash took place amid a statewide shutdown called by student organizations, with police and protesters clashing in several districts and authorities using lathicharge, tear gas, and water cannons at different sites.

Three injured protesters, including 15-year-old Md Arif, were being treated at Jayprabha Medanta Hospital in Patna and were reported to be stable, though Jha said no one was injured in the firing itself.

The inquiry remains underway.

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FAQs

Q1: Why was the Bihar police constable suspended after the Siwan protest?

The constable was suspended after a video allegedly showed him firing an AK-47 during the student protest, prompting a departmental inquiry.

Q2: What has the Supreme Court been asked to do in the Bihar AK-47 firing case?

A petition has sought the registration of an FIR and a court-monitored investigation into the alleged firing during the Siwan protest.