Congress Condemns Police Violence Against Students in Bihar

Allegations of Police Brutality in Bihar

New Delhi, July 27 - The Congress party has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of 'brutality' following an incident in Siwan, Bihar, where a police officer allegedly used an AK-47 against protesting students. A video circulating on social media shows a police constable wielding the assault rifle during the demonstration. However, the authenticity of this video has not been independently verified.

Purana Kumar Jha, the Superintendent of Police in Siwan, informed a news agency that the constable seen in the video, who was part of the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), has been suspended immediately, and departmental action has been initiated against him.

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi claimed that reports are emerging of students being shot at with an AK-47 and hundreds being arrested with cases filed against them. He questioned Prime Minister Modi, asking, 'Where is your promise that no cases would be filed against students and they would be released?'

Gandhi accused the government of launching deadly attacks and 'brutality' against students. He pointed out that while students in Delhi faced pellet guns, those in Bihar were confronted with AK-47s. He urged Modi to apologize to the nation's students and take action against those who attacked them, rather than against the students themselves.

In response to the reports of AK-47 usage, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stated that protesting students are not terrorists. She noted that cases are still being filed against students in Bihar and West Bengal.

She mentioned hearing that parents of girls involved in the protests were contacted and questioned about why they allowed their daughters to participate. 'Can girls not protest? Is the use of pellet guns and AK-47s justified? Are they terrorists? What has happened to this government?' she asked.

Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding this issue. Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex, he demanded to know who ordered the use of AK-47s in Bihar and pellet guns in Delhi during student protests.

Congress MP Manish Tewari also raised concerns about the appropriateness of using pellet guns or AK-47s against unarmed and peaceful protesters. He stated, 'The answer is a resounding no. The Supreme Court has established a standard operating procedure for dealing with protests.'

Tewari emphasized that authorities should first announce prohibitory orders, followed by the use of water cannons if necessary, and then resort to baton charges and tear gas. Only in the most severe circumstances should a duty magistrate or the senior-most police officer present order the use of firearms.

He condemned the actions against unarmed students in Bihar as barbaric, inhumane, and oppressive, asserting that excessive and repressive force should never be used without clear orders from the highest levels.

Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, also addressed the issue, alleging that police fired directly at students with AK-47s during the 'Bihar Bandh.' He held Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary responsible for the incident, stating on social media, 'When a person accused in seven murder cases becomes Chief Minister, the police shoot innocent students in this manner.'

Yadav's remarks were directed at Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, whom he frequently targets by referring to him as 'the accused in seven murder cases.'