The incident in Siwan, Bihar, on July 26, 2023, erupted during student protests against the alleged leakage of the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) exam papers. The demonstrations, organized by the Bharat Krishak Party (BKP) and other youth groups, initially remained peaceful, with students gathering at J.P. Chowk to demand transparency. However, tensions escalated when police intervened, leading to clashes and the use of force. A critical moment occurred when a police officer, Abhishek Kumar, fired an AK-47 at a crowd, resulting in three students being injured. The incident has since sparked controversy, with conflicting accounts from authorities and calls for accountability. The injured students—Bulat Kumar, Akash, and a minor named Hafiz—were rushed to Medanta Hospital in Patna for treatment, with the government covering medical expenses. However, the police’s initial statements about the incident were vague. A press release issued on July 27 claimed that the shooting occurred at J.P. Chowk, where police were confronting protesters, and that no injuries were reported. This contradicted video evidence showing the AK-47 being fired toward the crowd. The police later admitted that only Bulat Kumar was confirmed to have been hit by a bullet, while the injuries of the other two remain under investigation. The use of an AK-47, a heavy weapon typically reserved for counter-insurgency operations, has drawn sharp criticism. Legal experts and former police officials, including Alok Kumar, a former inspector and current assistant professor, highlighted that the police manual explicitly prohibits the use of such weapons in civilian protests. Kumar stated, “The police are meant to de-escalate situations, not escalate them. The use of an AK-47 in this context is a clear violation of protocol.#bihar #neet_exam #siwan #bharat_krishak_party #j_p_chowk
