Cops Suspended for Firing AK-47 During Student Protest in Bihar
On Sunday, student protests in Siwan turned violent as demonstrators clashed with police personnel
Siwan (Bihar): Action has been taken against police personnel who were seen firing an AK-47 during a student protest in Bihar's Siwan, Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha told ANI on Monday.
On Sunday, student protests in Siwan turned violent as demonstrators clashed with police personnel. Following reports of stone-pelting, police fired tear gas shells and resorted to a lathicharge to disperse the crowd, which was demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy.
Similar unrest was reported in Patna during a statewide shutdown called by opposition parties and social organisations over the paper leak issue and police action against student protesters. Demonstrators allegedly vandalised and overturned police vehicles, prompting increased police deployment across affected areas.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi-led government, accusing it of being "murderous" towards students.
In a post on X, Gandhi alleged that the government was using extreme force, including AK-47s and pellet guns, to suppress student voices across various states.
"The entire system is downright murderous against students. News is coming in that AK-47 bullets have been fired at protesting students in Bihar, and hundreds of students have been arrested with FIRs being filed against them," Gandhi said.
Questioning the Prime Minister over earlier assurances regarding student protesters, Gandhi asked, "Mr Modi, where did your promise go that no FIRs would be filed against students and they would be released? Instead, deadly attacks and brutality are being unleashed on them."
He further claimed there was a nationwide pattern of state action against students.
"In Delhi, pellet guns were fired at students, and in Bihar, AK-47s. Whether it's Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, or Delhi—the pattern is the same everywhere. I've said it before: this government is dishonest. Real reform is beyond their capability. They'll backtrack on their words and use every trick in the book to suppress students' voices," Gandhi added.
Concluding his statement, the Congress leader demanded an unconditional apology from the Prime Minister and called for accountability from the security forces involved.
