Action Taken After Police Officer Fires AK‑47 at NEET Protest in Siwan, Bihar

On Saturday, a student rally in Siwan, Bihar, that began as a demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over a NEET paper‑leak, quickly spiralled into a chaotic scene. Stones were hurled, tear‑gas canisters hissed, and, in a shocking turn, a police officer brandished an AK‑47 and opened fire.

Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha confirmed to ANI on Monday that disciplinary action has been initiated against the officer caught on camera. “We are investigating the incident and will take appropriate measures,” he said, adding that the probe will also look at the broader handling of the protest.

The violence didn’t stay confined to Siwan. In Patna, demonstrators set fire to police vehicles and clashed with law‑enforcement as opposition parties and social groups called for a statewide shutdown. Police responded with a mix of lathicharge, additional tear‑gas, and heightened deployment across the capital.

Across the country, the episode has ignited a fresh political firestorm. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, slamming the Modi government for what he termed a “murderous” approach toward students. “Reports are coming in that AK‑47 bullets have been fired at protesting students in Bihar, while pellet guns were used in Delhi. This is a systematic crackdown,” he wrote, demanding an unconditional apology from the prime minister.

Gandhi also resurrected a promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that no FIRs would be filed against students involved in peaceful protests. “Where is that promise now? Instead, we see hundreds of FIRs, arrests, and lethal force being deployed,” he asked, urging accountability for the security forces.

The incident adds to a growing list of alleged heavy‑handed tactics used against student movements, from pellet‑gun dispersals in Delhi’s universities to reports of live ammunition in other states. Critics argue that such responses only deepen mistrust between youth and the authorities.

While the investigation in Siwan proceeds, students and activist groups are calling for a transparent inquiry and for the immediate withdrawal of any charges filed against demonstrators. The demand for a clean, fair NEET examination process, however, remains at the heart of the unrest.