Siwan Police on 27 July 2026 issued an official statement defending Constable Abhishek Kumar (Constable No. 47), who fired an AK-47 rifle during the 25 July Bihar Bandh protests, asserting that four rounds were discharged into the air solely to disperse a mob and safeguard lives and government property. The constable has since been placed under suspension and faces departmental disciplinary proceedings.

What the Police Statement Says

According to the official police statement, Constable Abhishek Kumar was deployed near J.P. Chowk in Siwan city when police personnel were allegedly surrounded by bandh supporters. The statement reads: 'On July 25, 2026, near J.P. Chowk in Siwan city, Constable No. 47 Abhishek Kumar fired four rounds into the air to protect lives and government property after being surrounded by supporters of the bandh. There are no reports of anyone in the crowd sustaining injuries during this incident.'

The constable's suspension was formalised under Siwan District Order No. 1144/26, with formal departmental disciplinary proceedings initiated alongside it.

The Three Injured: Locations Tell a Different Story

Police addressed the injuries reported during the protests by noting that all three injured individuals were found at locations separate from J.P. Chowk. Md Arif (17) and Akash Kumar (22) sustained injuries near Hafiz Chowk, approximately 1.5 km from J.P. Chowk, while Bullet Kumar Gaur (20) was found injured near the Traffic Police Station, around 2 km away.

All three received initial treatment at Siwan Sadar Hospital before being referred to Medanta Hospital, Patna. Doctors confirmed all three are out of danger. Md Arif has since been discharged, while the other two continue to receive treatment. Three separate FIRs have been registered based on the statements of the injured persons.

Political Escalation: Opposition Raises the Stakes

The controversy first surfaced on 25 July when Leader of Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, demanded the state government clarify under what circumstances the AK-47 was used and who authorised the firing. The issue quickly drew national attention.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, posted on his official X account, alleging that students protesting over examination-related issues had been subjected to excessive force. Gandhi wrote: 'The entire system is downright murderous against students. News is coming that AK-47 bullets have been fired at protesting students in Bihar, and hundreds of students have been arrested with FIRs filed against them. Mr Modi, where did your promise go that no FIRs would be filed against students and they would be released? Instead, deadly attacks and brutality are being unleashed on them.'

He further alleged a national pattern, writing: 'In Delhi, pellet guns were fired at students, and in Bihar, AK-47s. Whether it is Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, or Delhi, the pattern is the same everywhere. Apologise to the country's students and take action against those who attacked them — not against the students themselves.'

Context: Student Unrest and the Bihar Bandh

The 25 July Bihar Bandh was called by student groups protesting over examination-related grievances, drawing large crowds across several districts. The use of an AK-47 — a weapon not typically associated with standard crowd-control protocols — triggered immediate questions about authorisation and proportionality. Notably, this is not the first time student-led protests in India have escalated into confrontations with security forces, but the deployment of an assault rifle for aerial firing marks an unusual development that has amplified political and public scrutiny.

With three FIRs registered, departmental proceedings underway, and opposition leaders demanding accountability, the Siwan firing is likely to remain a flashpoint as Bihar's political landscape heats up.