Bihar Govt Removes Siwan SP Puran Kumar Jha Over AK-47 Use During Student Protest

The Bihar government has removed Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha from his post following a controversy surrounding the firing of an AK-47 by a police constable during student protests on July 25. Jha is currently under vetting for a new assignment, while other officers serving in Siwan remain in limbo without new postings, as reported by NDTV.

The AK-47 firing incident occurred amidst a statewide bandh organized by students, protesting alleged NEET paper leaks and other student-related issues. The clash between demonstrators and police resulted in stone-pelting, tear gas usage, and other crowd-control measures in Siwan. A video showed constable Abhishek Kumar firing the weapon in the air near JP Chowk, although he was apparently firing without orders.

The police assert that the constable used his service weapon to protect himself and others from the violent situation and to protect public and government property. Despite claims that no one was injured by the four rounds fired, three protesters, including a 17-year-old, suffered bullet injuries. Three separate FIRs were registered, although it remains unclear if all three injuries were caused by the police firing.

The removal of Jha marks the latest action taken by the Bihar government in the wake of the July 25 violence, which has also drawn criticism from opposition leaders who questioned the police's response to the student agitation.