Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Tejashwi Yadav Detained During Protest Over Bihar Police Firing
Tejashwi Yadav is a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal party.
He was detained during a protest in Patna on August 19, 2026.
The protest was about police action against young people demonstrating over alleged problems in competitive examinations.
Police had fired an AK-47 during a July 25 protest in Siwan.
The Bihar government says the officer fired four shots into the air after being trapped by a crowd.
It also says no one was hurt by those bullets.
Yadav said the government was treating students unfairly and damaging their future.
His sister Misa Bharti was also detained during a related march.
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav was detained during a protest march in Patna.
RJD MP Misa Bharti was later detained while joining the march to the governor’s residence.
The protests opposed Bihar Police’s use of an AK-47 while dispersing examination protesters in Siwan on July 25.
The Bihar government told the Supreme Court that a constable fired four shots into the air after becoming trapped in a crowd.
Yadav accused the BJP-led Bihar government of harming students through alleged scams, unemployment and paper leaks.
- Who
- Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav and RJD MP Misa Bharti were detained; Bihar Police and the BJP-led Bihar government are central to the dispute.
- What
- Yadav and Bharti were detained during protests against police firing and alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
- When
- Yadav was detained on Wednesday, August 19, 2026; the disputed firing occurred on July 25.
- Where
- The detentions occurred during a march in Patna toward Lok Bhavan, while the firing occurred in Siwan district, Bihar.
- Why
- The protests demanded accountability over alleged examination irregularities and police use of force against demonstrators.
RJD and Protesters
Bihar Government
Use of the AK-47
RJD and Protesters
Tejashwi Yadav said the government was using AK-47s against people protesting wrongdoing and students’ concerns.
Bihar Government
The Bihar government said a constable fired four shots into the air after becoming trapped in a crowd; it said no one was injured by the bullets.
Government treatment of students
RJD and Protesters
Yadav accused Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and the BJP-led government of being unjust to students and of presiding over unemployment, paper leaks and alleged scams.
Bihar Government
The government’s affidavit presented the police firing as a response to a constable being trapped in a crowd protesting alleged examination irregularities.
Extent of harm during the July 25 protest
RJD and Protesters
The protest account cited in the report says three people were injured when police opened fire after protesters allegedly threw stones.
Bihar Government
The Bihar government said the shots from the AK-47 did not injure anyone.
- Detained
- Tejashwi Yadav and later Misa Bharti
- Protest location
- Patna, Bihar
- Police firing location
- Siwan district on July 25
- Government account
- A constable fired four shots into the air after becoming trapped in a crowd
- Reported injuries
- Three people were injured during the July 25 demonstration, while the Bihar government said no one was injured by the AK-47 bullets
- Legal response
- The Bihar government submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court on August 11
- Related national protest
- The demonstrations expressed solidarity with a Delhi youth agitation seeking the resignation of then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan