A video of shots being fired from an AK-47 rifle at student protesters in Siwan district during the Bihar bandh, or strike, on 25 July went viral on social media. A Bihar police officer has been dismissed over the incident.
Large protests by student organisations were seen in various districts during the state-wide strike. Clashes between protesters and police were reported in several places at the time.
According to official information, the Bihar police headquarters took the viral video footage very seriously. The footage shows a police constable firing an AK-47 during the protest. He was ordered dismissed immediately afterwards.
The condition of three injured protesters under treatment at the Jayprabha Medanta Hospital in Patna is now said to be stable. Among the injured is a 15-year-old boy. According to his family, he works at a local shop. His relatives said he had closed the shop during the strike and was on his way home when he was caught up in the clashes and shot in the neck. Doctors operated and successfully removed the bullet, and he is now out of danger.
Bihar’s leader of the opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, has demanded strong action against the officials responsible. He posted a video of the incident showing a police officer firing at students.
The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has also raised the matter. Pointing to the use of pellet guns against protesting students in Delhi and of an AK-47 in Bihar, he said the same pattern is visible everywhere.
Police officials said maintaining law and order is the force’s primary duty and that any violation of established rules is viewed very seriously. They also said a detailed departmental inquiry has begun and that further steps will be taken on the basis of its findings. The inquiry will establish whether the firearm was used in accordance with police protocol and whether any further disciplinary or legal action is needed.
As part of the state-wide strike, large numbers of students gathered in the city that day and marched towards Gandhi Maidan. As the students were chanting slogans, an argument broke out at one point between protesters and police and the situation deteriorated sharply.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report