1 week ago
Bihar Police Restricts AK-47 Use During Student Protests
Bihar Police made new rules after an officer was seen firing an AK-47 during student protests.
The protests took place in Siwan in July.
Police headquarters said powerful rifles should not normally be used to manage crowds.
They should be used only as a last resort when people’s lives are at risk.
The state said the constable fired four shots into the air after protesters surrounded him.
It also said nobody was injured.
Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav protested the incident and demanded justice for students.
The government also removed a senior police officer from his post.
Bihar Police advised that AK-47s, INSAS rifles and SLRs should not routinely be used for crowd control.
The weapons may be deployed only in extremely critical situations, particularly when lives are in danger.
A viral video allegedly showed a constable firing an AK-47 during student protests in Siwan in July.
The Bihar government removed Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha after the incident drew criticism.
Tejashwi Yadav led a protest in Patna and said the Opposition would continue its agitation for justice and exam transparency.
- Who
- Bihar Police, a constable seen firing an AK-47, the Bihar government, and Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav.
- What
- Bihar Police issued an advisory limiting the use of AK-47s and other assault rifles during protests.
- Where
- The rifle-firing incident occurred in Siwan, Bihar, and the later protest march took place in Patna.
- When
- The incident occurred in July; Tejashwi Yadav led a related protest march on Wednesday.
- Why
- The advisory followed criticism over the use of an AK-47 during student protests and concerns about proportionality in police response.
Opposition and Civil Society
Bihar Government and Police
Use of assault rifles
Opposition and Civil Society
The Opposition and a section of civil society criticized the use of an AK-47 during student protests and demanded justice for students.
Bihar Government and Police
Bihar Police said heavy weapons should be a last resort and issued rules limiting their use to extremely critical situations.
Whether police response was excessive
Opposition and Civil Society
Tejashwi Yadav's protest focused on accountability, student rights, paper leaks, unemployment and examination transparency.
Bihar Government and Police
The state told the Supreme Court that police showed restraint and did not use disproportionate force; it said the constable fired into the air after protesters surrounded him.
Description of the protest
Opposition and Civil Society
The article describes the incident as connected to protests over question-paper leaks and, elsewhere, as an agitation seeking Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET leak.
Bihar Government and Police
The state’s account emphasized the circumstances surrounding the constable and said no one was injured; the supplied reports do not provide a separate detailed explanation of the differing descriptions.
Key facts
- Weapons covered
- AK-47s, INSAS rifles and Self-Loading Rifles
- New rule
- The weapons are not to be used routinely for crowd control.
- Permitted use
- They may be deployed only in extremely critical situations, especially when lives are in danger.
- Incident
- A viral video allegedly showed a constable firing an AK-47 during protests in Siwan in July.
- Reported firing
- The state told the Supreme Court that four rounds were fired into the air and that nobody was injured.
- Administrative action
- Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha was removed from his post.
- Political response
- Tejashwi Yadav led a protest march in Patna and pledged continued agitation.
Quotes
Tejashwi Yadav
Leader of the Opposition in Bihar who led a protest march over the firing incident
“We will continue our fight until justice is delivered to the students... We will keep the fight on. We are not afraid of jail...We will always raise our voice for the rights of the students, curb unemployment, stop paper leaks, and ensure transparency in examinations,”
NDTV
Sources
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