Indian policeman suspended for firing AK-47 at student protesters

India suspends policeman for firing AK-47 at student protesters

Indian authorities have suspended a police constable after he fired multiple rounds from an AK-47 assault rifle to disperse student protesters in Bihar State, intensifying scrutiny of law enforcement's response to nationwide demonstrations over examination malpractice and youth-related concerns.

The incident occurred on Saturday in the eastern city of Siwan, where students were protesting amid a broader wave of unrest sparked by the leakage of question papers for India's national medical college entrance examination.

Videos widely shared on social media and later confirmed by police showed the officer, dressed in riot gear, running toward demonstrators before pointing the assault rifle into the air and firing at least three rounds.

Authorities said no injuries were recorded during the incident.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Nilesh Kumar acknowledged that the officer's actions were unjustified, stressing that the use of the military-grade weapon against student protesters was inappropriate.

"The AK-47 was used by the constable wrongly. It cannot be justified in any way," Kumar told Reuters.

"He used it wrongly, because they were students. There was no need of doing so. That is why he has been suspended. All sorts of actions will be taken against him."

The suspended officer reportedly belongs to an intelligence unit tasked with confronting dangerous and hardened criminals, a role for which he had been issued the assault rifle.

Bihar cop, seen on camera firing at protesting students

The latest controversy comes against the backdrop of weeks of student-led protests across India, triggered by the alleged leak of question papers for the national medical entrance examination conducted in May, which affected more than two million candidates and ultimately forced authorities to order a fresh examination.

Beyond the examination scandal, demonstrators have also raised concerns over rising youth unemployment and growing fears that artificial intelligence could reduce job opportunities, particularly in India's technology and business process outsourcing sectors.

The mounting public pressure culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's education minister on Saturday after nearly five weeks of sustained protests.

The issue has also dominated proceedings in India's Parliament, where opposition lawmakers accused the government of suppressing peaceful dissent.

"It is one of the gravest assaults on democracy in our history. Never before have students been beaten, dragged, and treated like criminals for raising their voices," opposition Congress Party president Mallikarjun Kharge said.

"In Bihar, reports indicate use of AK-47 against students. Those responsible cannot escape accountability."

Parliamentary proceedings were repeatedly disrupted as opposition legislators demanded answers over the government's handling of the protests and allegations of excessive force by security personnel.

Criticism extended beyond the political arena, with Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan warning that the space for peaceful public dissent in India is narrowing.

"It will not be an exaggeration to say that public space for expressing divergent opinion is shrinking in India," the judge said during a public address.

"Right to express one's views and to demonstrate peacefully are fundamental freedoms of the citizens."

The suspension of the officer is expected to remain under close scrutiny as investigations continue into both the use of force during the protests and the examination scandal that sparked one of India's largest youth-led demonstrations in recent years.