The viral video of a Bihar policeman firing an AK-47 rifle during protests in Siwan triggered a political storm in Parliament on Monday (July 27, 2026), with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and action against those who “attacked” students.
The policeman has been suspended and a departmental inquiry ordered, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Siwan district Puran Kumar Jha said.
At least three protesters sustained gunshot injuries and were admitted to a private hospital in Patna, where their condition is stated to be stable.
One of them was discharged on July 27.
CJP flags detention of protestors in States, asks Centre to honour assurance In a post in Hindi on X, Mr.
Gandhi said “the entire system is downright murderous against students”.
“Reports are coming in that AK-47s have been fired at protesting students in Bihar, and hundreds have been arrested and booked under FIRs.
Modi ji, what happened to your promise that no FIRs would be filed against students and that they would be released?
Instead, they are being subjected to deadly attacks and brutality,” he said.
“Pellet guns were used against students in Delhi, and AK-47s in Bihar.
Whether it is Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, or Delhi — the pattern is the same everywhere.
This government is dishonest.
Reform is beyond its capability.
It will renege on its promises and use every tactic to suppress the students’ voices,” Mr.
Gandhi added.
Several Congress leaders also condemned the reported use of force.
Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C.
Venugopal demanded an explanation from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, asking who had ordered the use of AK-47s in Bihar and pellet guns in Delhi.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned the deployment of such weapons against protesters, saying, “The students are not terrorists.” Congress MP Manish Tewari termed the reported action against unarmed students “barbaric, inhuman, and an atrocity” and said the use of excessive force violated established procedures for handling protests.
Posting the video on social media, Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, whose elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav was arrested on July 26, demanded action against the officials responsible.
He warned that if the arrested students and his brother were not released within 24 hours, the party would launch a massive statewide agitation.
The video of the policeman firing the AK-47 has circulated widely on social media since July 26.
“The video surfaced late because Internet services remained suspended for 24 hours after the protest,” a local journalist in Siwan told The Hindu.
Bihar bandh turns violent; police open fire in Siwan, injuring three protesters Departmental probe The policeman has been identified as Abhishek Kumar, attached to the District Intelligence Unit.
“The policeman has been suspended and a departmental inquiry ordered,” Siwan SP Mr.
Jha said.
Asked who had authorised the firing, Mr.
Jha said the matter would be examined in the departmental probe.
According to a police statement, the officer fired four rounds in the air near J.P.
Chowk to protect government property and lives, and no one was injured in that firing.
The three injured protesters — a 17-year-old (name withheld), Aakash Kumar (22) and Bullet Kumar Gond (20) — sustained gunshot wounds at locations away from J.P.
Chowk.
They were shifted from Siwan Sadar Hospital to a private hospital in Patna after initial treatment.
Police have also registered an FIR against the three.
Police said 694 people were detained during the July 25 protests, including 339 minors who were later released after verification.
Ninety-one policemen and 13 civilians were injured, while 14 police vehicles were damaged.
Two Block Development Officers sustained grievous injuries, the police said.
The violence erupted during a Bihar bandh called by the All India Students Association.
Police said protesters pelted stones at security personnel in Siwan before the armed officer opened fire.
Demonstrations were reported across Bihar, including in Patna, where police vehicles were vandalised and several protesters were detained.
