A police constable was suspended by Bihar Police Headquarters on 27 July after a video purportedly showing him firing an AK-47 rifle during the 25 July Bihar Bandh protests in Siwan district went viral on social media. Three protesters injured in the violence are currently stable at a hospital in Patna, according to official reports. The incident has triggered a formal departmental inquiry into whether police protocols were followed.

How the Violence Unfolded

A large student-led mobilisation in Siwan turned volatile on 25 July as demonstrators marching toward Gandhi Maidan clashed with police during the statewide shutdown. The confrontation escalated into lathi-charges and stone-pelting, with conflicting accounts emerging from both sides over the sequence of events and the use of force.

Footage that subsequently circulated on social media allegedly showed a police constable discharging an AK-47 — a weapon not standard in crowd-control deployments — during the unrest. The clip drew swift condemnation and prompted immediate action from the state police hierarchy.

Suspension and Departmental Inquiry

Bihar Police Headquarters took serious note of the viral footage and ordered the constable's suspension. Senior police officials stated that upholding law and order is the force's core mandate and that any breach of established procedures invites strict disciplinary consequences.

A detailed departmental inquiry has been initiated. Authorities said the investigation will determine whether the discharge of the firearm was consistent with prescribed protocols and whether additional disciplinary or legal proceedings are warranted. Findings have not yet been made public.

Condition of the Injured

Three protesters injured during the clashes are receiving treatment at Jayprabha Medanta Hospital in Patna, where their condition is reported to be stable. Among them is 15-year-old Md. Arif, who, according to his family, works at a local shop.

His relatives said he was returning home after shutting the shop during the bandh when he was struck in the neck by a bullet. Doctors successfully extracted the bullet during surgery, and his condition is now described as stable, according to hospital reports.

Broader Context: Bihar Bandh and Student Protests

The Bihar Bandh on 25 July saw statewide demonstrations led by student organisations across multiple districts. Clashes between protesters and police were reported at several locations beyond Siwan, reflecting the scale of the shutdown and the tensions it generated.

This incident is notable because the alleged use of an AK-47 — typically a combat-grade weapon — in a protest-dispersal scenario raises questions about armament protocols during civil unrest, a concern that the ongoing inquiry is expected to address directly.

What Comes Next

The departmental inquiry is ongoing, and authorities have indicated that further action — disciplinary or legal — will follow once findings are established. The condition of the three injured protesters will continue to be monitored at Jayprabha Medanta Hospital. Pressure from civil society groups and political parties for a transparent probe is likely to mount in the coming days.