Patna
The Siwan Police on Monday said that the suspended constable who fired an AK-47 rifle during the July 25 Bihar Bandh protests had opened fire into the air to disperse a mob and protect lives as well as government property.
In an official statement, the police identified the constable as Abhishek Patel (Constable No. 47), who was deployed near J.P. Chowk in Siwan during the student-led protest. According to the statement, he fired four rounds into the air after police personnel were allegedly surrounded by bandh supporters.
Police maintained that no one in the crowd was injured in the firing.
The statement added that Constable Abhishek Patel has been suspended under Siwan District Order No. 1144/26, and departmental disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against him.
Addressing reports of injuries during the protest, the police clarified that the three injured persons were found at locations separate from where the constable fired his weapon.
According to the statement, Md Arif (17) and Akash Kumar (22) were injured near Hafiz Chowk, around 1.5 km from J.P. Chowk, while Bullet Kumar Gaur (20) was found injured near the Traffic Police Station, nearly 2 km away.
Police said all three are out of danger. After receiving initial treatment at Siwan Sadar Hospital, they were referred to Medanta Hospital in Patna. Md Arif has since been discharged, while the other two continue to undergo treatment.
Authorities also confirmed that three separate FIRs have been registered based on the statements of the injured persons.
The controversy erupted after Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, questioned the use of an AK-47 during the Bihar Bandh protest and sought an explanation from the state government regarding who authorised the firing.
The issue later escalated nationally after Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi criticised the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Bihar, alleging excessive force against protesting students.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi claimed that students protesting over examination-related issues had been met with brutality, alleging that AK-47 bullets were fired at protesters and hundreds of students were booked. He demanded action against those responsible for the alleged crackdown instead of the students.