AK-47 use during protest did not result in injury, Bihar govt tells Supreme Court

The Bihar government has informed the Supreme Court that the use of an AK-47 rifle to disperse student protestors in Siwan did not result in any injuries, despite admitting that such a weapon should not be used in law and order situations. In a recent affidavit, the state government addressed petitions filed by students who sustained injuries due to police brutality during protests across the country, including those triggered by the leak of the NEET-UG 2026 question paper.

The affidavit stated that when constable Abhishek Kumar became "trapped" in a crowd near JP Chowk in Siwan on July 25, he fired four rounds of his AK-47 into the air. Crucially, it noted that "no one was injured from the bullets of AK-47" as the constable attempted to clear the area. The government denied that the shots from the AK-47 weapon caused any injuries, asserting that the protesters were not located at the site where the constable discharged his firearm.

Moreover, the affidavit suggested that disciplinary action had been taken against the constable, who was placed under suspension for "undesired conduct" and had departmental proceedings initiated against him. The state government acknowledged that the AK-47 is a platoon-level weapon meant for special operations, not for use in law enforcement circumstances.

This response came after the Supreme Court on August 3 directed the preservation of CCTV footage and the withdrawal of cases against minors and those without criminal antecedents related to the incidents.