Police fired AK-47 after constable was trapped by crowd; no CJP protestor was injured: Bihar to Supreme Court

The Bihar government has told the Supreme Court that a police official who fired an AK-47 weapon during the recent student protests in Siwan did so only after he was surrounded by the crowd.

However, the State also said no protestors were injured due to the weapon use. The response is part of the reply filed by the government in response to petitions alleging police excesses during the protests linked to the movement led by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

In the affidavit filed on August 17, the State said that on July 25 near JP Chowk in Siwan, constable Abhishek Kumar "got trapped in the crowd" and fired 4 rounds from his AK47 "in the air."

Separately, Assistant Sub-Ipspector Nilesh Kumar Singh fired two rounds from his 9mm pistol near Hathi Chowk to disperse the mob.

Three protesters "suffered minor firearms injuries" due to the police action, the State said. However, it said these injuries were "neither caused by AK 47, nor the persons were located at the place where the constable fired from AK47".

Kumar has been suspended for "undesired conduct" and faces departmental proceedings, the government response further said. It added that an AK-47 "is a platoon level weapon" meant for special operations, not law and order duty.

The government has argued that its agencies maintained utmost restraint and did not use any disproportionate force to cause any harm to the protesters. It attributed damage to public property and attacks on officials to "anti-social elements" who joined the protests.

The State has also submitted district-wise account of the protests.

It said that on July 22, a march to Lok Bhawan called by All India Students' Association (AISA) turned violent at Patna's Gandhi Maidan. In this regard, 24 FIRs were registered against 808 persons and 65 persons were arrested.

On July 24, protesters allegedly attacked the Jehanabad District Magistrate's residence, injuring 18 officials. The State has also submitted information about violence that allegedly took place in Chapra, Patna, Sitamarhi, Bhagalpur, Aurangabad, Katihar and Kishanganj.

According to the State, 157 police personnel and 7 other public servants were injured in the violence across the State.

Between July 22 and 25, the police registered 69 FIRs and made 500 arrests across various districts.

Of these, 222 student protesters without criminal antecedents were released on bail, and 75 juveniles were released by the Juvenile Justice Board.

Considering CJP's stand with the Union government, the government has decided to close a majority of these cases.