Now Reading: Siwan SP removed after AK-47 used in student protest
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Siwan SP removed after AK-47 used in student protest
The Bihar government on Tuesday removed Siwan Superintendent of Police Pooran Kumar Jha after a constable used an AK-47 rifle during a student protest on July 25. The Federal reports that Jha has been placed on a waiting list for a new posting, and 18 senior IPS officers were transferred in the same order.
A video went viral showing constable Abhishek Patel, wearing a blue helmet and bulletproof vest, firing an AK-47 at protesters demonstrating against an NEET exam paper leak. Police said no one was injured and an inquiry was initiated, as per The Federal. NDTV adds that the constable was suspended earlier, but the officers in charge at the time had not yet received fresh postings.
Separately, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was detained during a protest against the AK-47 use, with water cannons deployed, NDTV reports. Bhojpur SP Raj, whose tenure saw an encounter that triggered an outcry, was also transferred. Bharat Soni has been posted as the new Siwan SP.
Indian Opinion Analysis
NDTV's two articles frame the event as a law-and-order failure with political fallout, emphasising the constable's suspension and Tejashwi Yadav's detention. The Federal provides broader context, naming the 18-officer transfer list and linking to other controversies like the Bhojpur encounter. Both agree the AK-47 use was serious, but NDTV leads with the removal as a consequence, while The Federal treats it as part of a routine transfer cycle. The middle ground: the government acted against the SP, but the constable's firing remains under inquiry, and no injuries were reported.
Watch for the inquiry outcome and whether the constable faces charges beyond suspension.
Coverage: 3 sources, 3 neutral
Sources (3): ndtv.com (neutral report), thefederal.com (neutral report), ndtv.com (2) (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
