Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 27: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Central government over its handling of student protests, condemning the alleged use of excessive force by security personnel and raising concerns over reports of an AK-47 being fired during demonstrations in Bihar.
Addressing reporters outside Parliament, Priyanka Gandhi questioned the government's approach towards student protesters, saying the deployment of firearms and pellet guns against demonstrators was unacceptable. She also alleged that police had filed fresh FIRs against students in Bihar and West Bengal and claimed that the families of several women protesters were allegedly being intimidated.
"First guns, then AK-47s and pellet guns -- are these students being treated as terrorists?" she asked. Priyanka further alleged that parents of young women who joined the protests were reportedly being questioned and pressured, asking why they had allowed their daughters to participate. "Do girls in this country not have the right to protest?" she remarked.
Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal echoed her concerns, demanding accountability from the government over the reported use of an AK-47 during the Bihar protests and pellet guns during demonstrations in Delhi. He questioned who authorised such force against students and youth participating in protests.
The controversy comes after a police constable in Bihar's Siwan district was suspended for allegedly firing an AK-47 rifle during the statewide 'Bihar Bandh' protest held on July 25. The suspension was ordered by the Bihar Police Headquarters after a video, purportedly showing the officer firing the weapon during clashes with demonstrators, circulated widely on social media.
Student organisations had organised protests across several districts during the bandh, with multiple incidents of confrontation between protesters and police. In Siwan, the situation reportedly turned violent, prompting police action to disperse the crowd.
Following the viral video, Bihar Police Headquarters initiated disciplinary action against the constable and ordered a departmental inquiry into the incident. Officials stated that adherence to standard operating procedures is mandatory and any deviation from established protocols would be dealt with strictly.
Police authorities said the ongoing inquiry would determine whether the firearm was used in accordance with official guidelines and whether further disciplinary or legal action would be necessary.
Meanwhile, three protesters injured during the unrest remain under treatment at Jay Prabha Medanta Hospital in Patna, with doctors confirming that all are in stable condition.
Among the injured is 15-year-old Md. Arif, whose family said he works at a neighbourhood shop. According to his relatives, Arif was returning home after closing the shop during the bandh when he was struck by a bullet in the neck amid the violence. Doctors successfully removed the bullet through surgery, and his condition has since stabilised.
Authorities have not yet released the findings of the investigation, which is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the firing and determine whether police personnel followed prescribed operational protocols.