Bihar Student Protests: Govt Tells Supreme Court Constable Fired AK-47 in Air After Being Trapped by Protesters
The Bihar government has informed the Supreme Court that a police constable deployed during student demonstrations in Siwan fired four rounds from an AK-47 into the air only after he was trapped and surrounded by a crowd of protesters.
The Bihar government has informed the Supreme Court that a police constable deployed during student demonstrations in Siwan fired four rounds from an AK-47 into the air only after he was trapped and surrounded by a crowd of protesters. The state maintained that the firing caused no injuries to demonstrators and that the officer involved has since been suspended, with departmental proceedings underway.
In an affidavit filed before the apex court, the state government detailed the events of July 25 near JP Chowk in Siwan. According to the submission, Constable Abhishek Kumar resorted to warning shots after becoming isolated in the crowd. The government emphasized that while three protesters sustained minor firearm injuries during the broader police response that day, those injuries were not caused by Kumar’s weapon, nor were the injured individuals present at his location. Siwan AK-47 Row: Bihar Police Say Suspended Constable Fired in Air To Protect Lives and Govt Property.
The state also disclosed a second firing incident during the agitation, noting that Assistant Sub-Inspector Nilesh Kumar Singh discharged two rounds from a 9mm pistol near Hathi Chowk to disperse a crowd. Addressing concerns over the deployment of military-grade weaponry during public demonstrations, the state clarified that the AK-47 carried by Kumar was a "platoon-level weapon" designated for special operations rather than routine law-and-order duties. The government described his conduct as "undesired," leading to his immediate suspension.
The affidavit was filed in response to petitions alleging that law enforcement deployed excessive and disproportionate force during protests linked to a student movement led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Defending the overall conduct of security personnel, the Bihar government told the Supreme Court that police exercised restraint throughout the agitation and acted strictly to maintain public order. Suspended Cop Who Fired AK-47 After Being Surrounded by Protesters: Bihar Govt Tells SC.
The Supreme Court is set to review the state's affidavit alongside claims raised by the petitioners as it examines whether the police response was proportionate.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 18, 2026 04:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).