The Siwan District Magistrate, Vivek Ranjan Maitrey, has confirmed that no orders were given for the discharge of an AK-47 during recent student protests in Siwan, Bihar. Following public outcry and political discussions in Parliament regarding the police’s heavy-handed approach, swift actions have been taken against the involved personnel. Constable Abhishek Kumar has been suspended and is now facing formal departmental proceedings for his actions during the demonstration.

Constable Kumar was reportedly part of a District Intelligence Unit (DIU) conducting a separate investigation into a murder case when he inadvertently became trapped in a crowd of protestors at JP Chowk. During the incident, he allegedly fired four rounds into the air, a decision characterised by the District Magistrate as both inappropriate and outside his authority.

Maitrey stated, “He did not have the orders to do so. He should not have fired in the air. Such a weapon should not have been taken in public,” emphasising the need for accountability in law enforcement actions. Both the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Puran Kumar Jha, reiterated that the officer acted without directive and disregarded established protocols for crowd management.

Details of the Incident and Official Statements

According to reports from Bihar Police, the incident occurred on July 25, when Constable Abhishek Kumar was positioned near JP Chowk. Amidst the unrest caused by bandh supporters, he allegedly discharged his weapon in a bid to ensure public safety. The police have indicated that the weapon was fired in an upward direction, aiming to prevent potential harm to life, public safety, and government property.

Authorities confirmed that, remarkably, no injuries resulted from the gunfire at the protest site, and the personnel involved have been suspended following the incident. Superintendent Jha noted that the officers were in the area to investigate a murder that had taken place earlier that day, complicating their engagement with the protest.

In a recent communication, the Bihar Police clarified that while no injuries occurred due to the AK-47 shots fired by Kumar, three individuals were reported to have sustained gunshot wounds in other locations nearby. The injured parties, identified as 17-year-old Md. Arif and 22-year-old Akash Kumar, were found approximately 1.5 kilometres from JP Chowk, while a third individual, 20-year-old Bullet Kumar Gaur, was located about two kilometres from the protest site.

Medical Status and Ongoing Investigations

Medical personnel have declared that all three injured individuals are currently out of danger. After receiving initial treatment at Siwan Sadar Hospital, they were subsequently transferred to Medanta Hospital in Patna, where Md. Arif has already been discharged. Reports confirm that the individuals sustained injuries at different locations, which underscores the complexities surrounding the incident.

Bihar Police have initiated separate FIRs based on the statements from the injured persons, indicating an ongoing investigation into the circumstances leading to their injuries. The actions and decisions of Constable Abhishek Kumar are being scrutinised closely as part of this inquiry, with officials seeking to ensure accountability and adherence to procedural guidelines in law enforcement practices.

The investigation is still active, and further developments are anticipated as authorities seek to address the underlying issues surrounding the conduct of police personnel during public protests. The complexities of this case continue to unfold as the administrative and police bodies work towards maintaining order and public trust within the community.

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