Siwan cop suspended for firing an AK-47 while chasing NEET protesters

A police constable in Bihar, Abhishek Patel, was suspended after video footage emerged showing him firing an AK-47 rifle towards student demonstrators during the July 25 'Bihar Bandh' called over NEET exam irregularities. Wearing a blue helmet and bulletproof vest, the officer was captured charging at protesters and urging colleagues to follow. While the viral video captured one shot, reports indicate four to five rounds were fired. Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha subsequently filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court regarding the incident.

The statewide shutdown triggered widespread protests and violent clashes between student organizations and police across multiple districts, resulting in stone-pelting, lathicharge, tear gas, and water cannon deployment. In Siwan, three individuals injured in the firing are undergoing treatment at Jayprabha Medanta Hospital in Patna, including a 15-year-old shop worker, Md Arif, who underwent surgery to remove a bullet from his neck. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, strongly condemned the police response and demanded strict accountability for the excessive use of force.

Following the backlash, Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha confirmed the constable's suspension and the initiation of departmental proceedings. Police officials stated that maintaining law and order remains their primary duty while emphasizing that protocols must be strictly followed. A detailed inquiry is underway to investigate whether the firearm was discharged in accordance with established procedures, with further disciplinary actions pending the investigation's outcome.