Le policier qui a tiré un AK-47 lors d'une manifestation étudiante à Siwan au Bihar est suspendu; l'opposition attaque le BJP

A police officer in Bihar was suspended after footage surfaced showing him firing an AK-47 during a student protest in Siwan district. According to local authorities, the constable, who was part of the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), has been suspended pending departmental inquiry. The incident occurred amid widespread unrest across the state, where student demonstrations turned violent over the weekend. At least three students sustained injuries in what officials described as alleged police firing, though investigations are ongoing to determine whether the injuries resulted from bullets fired by the police or from protesters. The controversy began when a video of the officer allegedly using an AK-47 rifle during the protest circulated online, sparking outrage among opposition parties and civil society groups. Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha confirmed the suspension and stated that disciplinary action has been initiated against the officer. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from several political figures, including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who accused the government of adopting a "murderous" approach toward students. He cited reports of AK-47 bullets being used in Bihar alongside similar incidents in Delhi involving pellet guns, suggesting a consistent pattern of forceful crackdowns across multiple states. Protests erupted in response to allegations of a leaked NEET exam paper, leading to a statewide shutdown organized by student associations. In Patna, clashes between students and police were reported, with authorities resorting to tear gas and lathi charges to disperse crowds. Social media platforms saw rapid dissemination of footage capturing these confrontations, further intensifying public scrutiny of the police’s conduct. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for transforming democratic spaces into zones of conflict, demanding accountability for the use of lethal weapons against peaceful demonstrators. Political tensions escalated as opposition leaders called for swift action against those responsible for the violence. Rashtriya Janata Dal MLA Tejashwi Yadav shared compiled videos of police actions against students, urging legal consequences for "culprits." His remarks targeted Samrat Choudhary, the Chief Minister of Bihar, whose administration has faced accusations of mishandling educational reforms and exacerbating student grievances. Meanwhile, Tej Pratap Yadav, a former minister and current leader of Janshakti Janata Dal, appealed to Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke to visit Bihar and assist in challenging the BJP-led government. This call followed the CJP’s decision to end its Delhi protests after the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET scandal. Dipke responded positively to the plea, indicating plans to hold a future event in Patna. His comments came after a viral video showed a supporter urging him to address the deteriorating educational environment under Choudhary’s leadership. The situation reflects broader discontent with the state’s governance, particularly regarding education policy and law enforcement practices. As investigations continue, the focus remains on determining the extent of police involvement in the violence and identifying those accountable for the alleged misuse of force. The incident has reignited debates over the balance between maintaining public order and protecting fundamental rights during protests. While authorities defend their actions as necessary measures to ensure safety, critics argue that excessive use of force undermines democratic principles. With the situation still evolving, attention turns to how the judicial process unfolds and whether it will lead to systemic changes in policing strategies and political accountability mechanisms.