Bihar govt tells SC, constable fired AK-47 after being ‘trapped’ in crowd
text_fields
Protesters against alleged exam irregularities in Bihar face the police on July 25 | Photo: Reuters
The Bihar government has told the Supreme Court that a constable fired four rounds into the air from an AK-47 after he was allegedly surrounded by a crowd protesting against irregularities in competitive examinations in Siwan on July 25.
In an affidavit filed before the court, the BJP-led state government said no one was injured by the AK-47 firing. The affidavit was submitted in response to petitions alleging excessive use of force against protesters.
Three protesters were injured during police firing in Siwan after demonstrators allegedly hurled stones at security personnel. The government said they sustained minor injuries when an assistant sub-inspector fired a 9-mm pistol and were not present at the location where the constable discharged the AK-47, Scroll.in reported.
The state government said the director general of police had subsequently issued directions clarifying that the AK-47 was a platoon-level weapon meant for special operations and should not be used for law-and-order situations. The constable involved in the firing has also been suspended.
According to the affidavit, protests over alleged examination irregularities had turned violent in several parts of Bihar, including Jehanabad, Patna, Chapra, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Aurangabad, Katihar, Kishanganj and Siwan.
The government alleged that protesters in Siwan vandalised public property and threw stones at police personnel, leaving 20 officers, including the district superintendent of police, injured. Police vehicles and traffic equipment were also reportedly damaged.
Between July 22 and July 25, police registered 69 FIRs and arrested around 500 people, the affidavit said. Following Supreme Court directions, 222 student protesters with no previous criminal record were released on bail, while 75 minors were released by the Juvenile Justice Board.
The Bihar government also told the court that police were not taking coercive action against protesters who had no criminal record.