Guwahati: Bihar Police have suspended personnel seen firing an AK-47 during a student protest in Siwan, Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha said on Monday.
The action comes after protests turned violent during a statewide agitation over the NEET paper leak and police action against student demonstrators.
According to police, demonstrators clashed with security personnel and allegedly pelted stones, prompting police to fire tear gas shells and resort to a lathicharge to disperse the crowd. The protesters were demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy.
Similar unrest was reported in the state capital during the statewide shutdown called by opposition parties and social organisations. Police said protesters allegedly vandalised and overturned police vehicles in the state capital, leading to increased deployment of security personnel in affected areas.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi government of using excessive force against student protesters and demanded accountability.
In a post on X, Gandhi alleged that students protesting in Bihar were fired upon with AK-47 rifles and that hundreds had been arrested and booked.
“The entire system is downright murderous against students. News is coming in that AK-47 bullets have been fired at protesting students in Bihar, and hundreds of students have been arrested with FIRs being filed against them,” he said.
Questioning the Prime Minister over earlier assurances regarding student protesters, Gandhi wrote, “Mr. Modi, where did your promise go that no FIRs would be filed against students and they would be released? Instead, deadly attacks and brutality are being unleashed on them.”
He also alleged a pattern of police action against student protesters across several states.
“In Delhi, pellet guns were fired at students, and in Bihar, AK-47s. Whether it’s Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, or Delhi—the pattern is the same everywhere. I’ve said it before: this government is dishonest. Real reform is beyond their capability. They’ll backtrack on their words and use every trick in the book to suppress students’ voices,” Gandhi said.
The Congress leader demanded that the Prime Minister apologise to students and take action against those responsible for the alleged use of excessive force during the protests.