A Bihar Police constable with the Special Task Force was suspended after firing an AK-47 during a student protest in Siwan [1].
The incident has triggered a political confrontation between the ruling government and opposition parties over the use of high-caliber weaponry against civilians. The suspension follows the circulation of a viral video that documented the officer using the automatic weapon during the demonstration [2].
The protest took place July 25, 2024 [3]. According to reports, the gunfire resulted in injuries to three people [3]. The police hierarchy suspended the officer after determining that the use of an automatic weapon on civilians was unacceptable [4].
Opposition leaders have condemned the action, describing the police response as excessively violent. Rahul Gandhi said the system is "downright murderous against students" [1]. The incident has intensified calls for accountability within the state's security forces, specifically regarding the deployment of military-grade hardware during civil unrest [1].
Siwan district officials are reviewing the protocol used during the protest to determine if other officers were complicit or if the constable acted alone [2]. The Special Task Force is typically reserved for high-level security operations, not standard crowd control, which has added to the scrutiny of the event [4].
“The system is "downright murderous against students".”
The deployment of AK-47s by a Special Task Force officer during a student demonstration reflects a significant escalation in crowd-control tactics. The subsequent political fallout and the specific condemnation from national figures indicate that the incident is being viewed not as an isolated disciplinary lapse, but as a symptom of systemic aggression toward youth protesters in Bihar.
