Tejashwi Yadav detained as RJD protests AK-47 firing, student crackdown

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav was detained on Wednesday while leading a protest march to Lok Bhavan in Siwan, Bihar. The demonstration sought accountability for the police's use of an AK-47 rifle against students protesting against NEET paper leak last month. Along with RJD MPs Misa Bharti and Manoj Kumar Jha, Yadav demanded amendments to new recruitment rules for assistant professors and a rollback of the two-tier examination system for teacher recruitment.

The students, who were also present at the protest, threatened to intensify their demonstrations if their demands were not met.

The RJD leaders faced water cannons from police forces at a barricade near the Income Tax Square before being detained. Tejashwi Yadav, who is also the leader of opposition in the Assembly, responded to his arrest by posting on X: "These are youthful spirits, who will not accept defeat against your water cannons, tyranny, and bullet sprays."

The Bihar government has since removed the Dehradun superintendent of police and Siwan district magistrate from their positions, but Yadav called for answers regarding the police constable who fired the AK-47 and the conditions that allowed the assault rifle to be carried during a civilian protest.

Indicating his determination to press for justice, Yadav declared, "A clarion call for justice has risen, the youth's roar has risen! Long live the unity of the youth. We will now bring the revolution!" He had also shown support to students protesting against the BPSC's decision to fill 32,388 teacher vacancies using a two-tier examination system. The students, in turn, have threatened to escalate their protests should the BPSC not revert to the single-examination format.