Politics – Kejriwal Questions Police Use of AK-47 During Bihar Student Protest
Politics – Political debate intensified on Tuesday after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over allegations linked to the use of an AK-47 rifle during a student demonstration in Bihar’s Siwan district. His remarks came after a video showing a police constable carrying the weapon during the protest circulated widely on social media, drawing attention from political leaders and the public.
Viral Video Sparks Political Reaction
The controversy stems from a protest held on July 25 in Siwan, where students gathered to demonstrate against alleged irregularities in examinations. During the protest, a video emerged online that purportedly showed a police constable carrying an AK-47 rifle while deployed at the protest site. The footage quickly gained traction across social media platforms, prompting questions about the level of force used during the student agitation.
Responding to the development, Arvind Kejriwal criticized the reported deployment of the assault rifle, questioning whether students protesting over examination-related issues should be treated as serious security threats. Through a post on X, he expressed concern over the handling of the demonstration and raised questions about the approach adopted by the authorities.
Kejriwal Invokes Jayaprakash Narayan Movement
While addressing the issue, Kejriwal also referred to Bihar’s historical student-led movement under Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan. Recalling the slogan associated with that movement, he urged those in power to avoid taking an aggressive stand against students and stressed that young people raising concerns over examinations deserve to be heard rather than confronted with excessive force.
His comments added a political dimension to an incident that had already attracted widespread public attention following the circulation of the video.
Police Suspend Constable After Video Surfaces
The Bihar Police responded to the controversy by taking disciplinary action against the constable seen in the viral footage. Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha confirmed that the personnel, who was attached to the District Intelligence Unit, had been suspended after the video came to light.
According to the police officer, departmental proceedings have also been initiated to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The inquiry is expected to determine whether established operational procedures were followed during the deployment at the protest.
Examination Issues Continue to Draw Attention
The protest in Siwan was organized over allegations of examination irregularities, an issue that has triggered demonstrations in several parts of the country in recent months. Concerns over transparency, fairness, and the conduct of recruitment and academic examinations have increasingly become matters of public debate, particularly among students preparing for competitive tests.
Although authorities have not indicated that the firearm shown in the video was discharged during the protest, the presence of such a weapon at a student demonstration has generated criticism and renewed discussions about the use of force during peaceful public gatherings.
As departmental proceedings move forward, the incident is likely to remain under scrutiny, with political parties and civil society continuing to seek accountability and clarity regarding the events that unfolded during the Siwan protest.