'Got trapped in crowd': Bihar govt defends constable who fired AK-47 during protests

In Bihar, the government has defended a constable who fired an AK-47 during student protests, claiming the officer was trapped and surrounded by protesters before discharging four rounds into the air. The incident occurred on July 25 near JP Chowk in Siwan and sparked widespread outrage online. The Samrat Choudhary government stated that the firing did not injure any protesters, despite another 9mm pistol shot allegedly fired by Assistant Sub-Inspector Nilesh Kumar Singh near Hathi Chowk to disperse the crowd.

The Bihar government maintained that the police acted with restraint and did not use excessive force during the protests. However, three protesters sustained minor firearm injuries during the police action, which were not caused by the AK-47 firing. An affidavit filed with the Supreme Court also mentioned another incident where Kumar fired his AK-47, but emphasized that the weapon was intended for special operations and not routine law-and-order duties.

The government suspended Kumar over what it called "undesired conduct" and initiated departmental proceedings against him. The use of an assault rifle during protests remains a contentious issue, with petitioners alleging excessive police force. The state government's affidavit is part of ongoing proceedings before the Supreme Court examining the police response, injuries reported during the protests, and the proportionality of the force used.