The Bihar government has told the Supreme Court that a police constable fired four rounds from an AK-47 into the air after becoming 'trapped' in a crowd during NEET-UG paper leak protests, denying any excessive force.

  • A Bihar police constable fired 4 rounds from an AK-47 during a student protest.
  • The state government claims the shots were fired in the air and no injuries occurred.
  • The involved police officer has been suspended following the incident.

In a significant legal development, the Bihar government has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court regarding the unrest surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak protests. The state has categorically denied allegations that the police force employed disproportionate or excessive force against the protesting students, framing the incident as an isolated tactical error.

According to the affidavit, a police constable found himself "trapped" within a surging crowd of students. In a moment of perceived crisis, the officer discharged four rounds from an AK-47 assault rifle. The government maintained that these shots were fired exclusively into the air to disperse the crowd or ensure the officer's safety, asserting that no one was injured as a result of the gunfire.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the deployment of high-caliber military-grade weaponry like the AK-47 in civilian crowd-control scenarios is highly irregular. This incident highlights a critical gap in the training of ground-level personnel and raises concerns about the escalation tactics used by state police during student-led demonstrations.

"The use of automatic weapons in protest zones, regardless of the direction of fire, creates a climate of fear that undermines the democratic right to peaceful assembly."

Following the incident, the state administration acted swiftly to suspend the officer involved. This suspension serves as a damage-control measure as the Supreme Court scrutinizes the state's handling of the protests. The broader context of the NEET-UG paper leak has already sparked nationwide outrage over the integrity of competitive examinations in India.

Historically, Bihar has been a crucible for student activism. However, the shift toward using heavy weaponry in urban protests marks a worrying trend. The judicial review will likely focus on whether the 'trapped' justification holds water or if it was a systemic failure in police deployment strategy.

Did You Know?: The AK-47 is one of the most widely used assault rifles globally, but its use in civil policing is strictly discouraged by international law enforcement standards due to its high penetration and lethality.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Were there any casualties during the firing?
No, the Bihar government stated in its affidavit that no one was injured as the shots were fired into the air.

2. What action was taken against the officer?
The police constable who fired the weapon has been suspended from duty.