Tejashwi Yadav meets Bihar DGP over Siwan student firing, rising crime
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bihar Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Friday, 7 August met State Director General of Police Vinay Kumar in Patna to raise concerns over the law-and-order situation in Bihar, including a firing incident in Siwan in which three students were reportedly injured. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader submitted a formal delegation of concerns to the DGP and subsequently launched a sharp attack on both the state and Central governments.
What Tejashwi Raised with the DGP
The RJD delegation flagged the Siwan firing incident — in which students participating in a protest reportedly sustained bullet injuries — and demanded accountability from senior officials. Tejashwi also referenced a separate incident in Jehanabad, expressing broader concern over the Bihar government's handling of student demonstrations.
The delegation submitted its concerns in writing, covering both the Siwan episode and what the opposition described as a general deterioration in law and order across the state.
Tejashwi's Allegations on AK-47 Use
'The people of Bihar, and indeed the entire country, want to know who authorised the use of an AK-47 against protesting students,' Tejashwi said, speaking to reporters after the meeting. He alleged that accountability could not end with action against lower-ranking personnel and demanded that those who allegedly issued such orders be identified.
He also questioned why Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha had not been removed from office in the wake of the incident, arguing that senior officials must be held responsible.
Political Targets: Modi, Shah, and Samrat Choudhary
Tejashwi trained his fire on the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary for what he described as their silence on the Siwan firing. He urged the state government to publicly clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and fix responsibility.
The RJD leader also referred to the alleged manhandling of opposition leaders by the Delhi Police during recent protests in the national capital, framing the incidents as part of a wider pattern of heavy-handed policing.
Opposition Solidarity and Appeal to Visit Bihar
Tejashwi thanked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for raising Bihar-related issues and appealed to them to visit the state after the conclusion of the ongoing Parliament session to meet those affected by the recent incidents.
Alleging that criminals were operating with impunity, Tejashwi claimed Bihar was 'gradually acquiring the image of a police state' — a charge the Bihar Police had not responded to at the time of this report.
Government and Police Response
The Bihar Police had not issued an official response to Tejashwi Yadav's remarks at the time of publication. The state government's position on the Siwan firing and the demand for the Siwan SP's removal also remained officially unaddressed. With the Parliament session ongoing, the issue is likely to spill into the political arena in the coming days.