'Got trapped in crowd': Bihar govt defends constable who fired AK-47 during protests

‘Platoon-level weapon’ (IANS photo)

NEW DELHI: The Bihar government has told the Supreme Court that a constable deployed during student protests in Siwan fired four rounds from an AK-47 only after he was "trapped and surrounded by protesters."A video showing a policeman firing an AK-47 during the protests went viral, triggering widespread outrage and backlash.The Samrat Choudhary government said the firing was directed into the air and did not injure any protesters.The government's response was filed before the apex court in connection with petitions alleging excessive police force during protests linked to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led student movement.According to the affidavit, the AK-47 incident took place on July 25 near JP Chowk in Siwan. Constable Abhishek Kumar was allegedly surrounded by protesters.The State said Kumar "got trapped in the crowd" and fired four rounds from his AK-47 "in the air" to deal with the situation. It maintained that no protester was injured in this firing.The government, however, said three protesters suffered minor firearm injuries during the police action that day.

It clarified that the injuries were not caused by Kumar's AK-47 firing and that the injured protesters were not present at the spot where he opened fire.The affidavit also mentioned another firing incident during the protests. Assistant Sub-Inspector Nilesh Kumar Singh allegedly fired two rounds from his 9mm pistol near Hathi Chowk to disperse the crowd.The Bihar government maintained that police exercised restraint during the protests and did not use disproportionate force.The state government said Kumar's firing occurred only after he was surrounded by the crowd. It also pointed out that the AK-47 was not intended for routine crowd-control or regular law-and-order duties.Kumar has since been suspended over what the government called "undesired conduct", and departmental proceedings have been initiated against him.

The state govt further told the court that the AK-47 carried by Kumar was a "platoon-level weapon" meant for special operations and not for routine law-and-order deployment.The use of an assault rifle during a protest is among the issues raised before the Supreme Court, with petitioners alleging excessive use of force by police.While the Bihar government has defended the circumstances of the July 25 firing, the petitions have raised wider concerns over police action against protesters.The Samrat Choudhary government's affidavit forms part of the ongoing proceedings before the Supreme Court. The court is examining allegations about the police response, including the circumstances of the firing, injuries reported during the protests and whether the force used was proportionate.