Within the PILs alleging police brutality in opposition to pupil protesters, the Bihar authorities has filed a counter affidavit earlier than the Supreme Courtroom denying use of ‘disproportionate drive’ to trigger any hurt to the protestors.
On the accusation of use of AK47 rifle at Siwan, it says that 4 photographs had been fired into the air by one of many constable as he obtained trapped within the crowd. Nonetheless, nobody was injured consequently. The affidavit additional mentions that close to Hathi Chowk, an ASI fired 2 rounds from his 9 mm pistol to disperse the mob and three protestors suffered “minor firearms accidents”.
The affidavit additionally underlines that these 3 protestors weren’t injured by the AK47 rifle, nor had been they current on the location the place the rifle was used. Even so, it’s added that ballistic examination is ongoing to seek out out the kind of weapon, distance of fireside, angle of fireside, and many others.
AK47 is a platoon degree weapon for use in particular operations, not legislation and order conditions, the affidavit says. It additional mentions that the State DGP has issued an instruction on the usage of AK47.
The state alleges that the protestors induced injury to public properties and several other police officers tackling the legislation and order scenario had been intentionally attacked by anti-social parts in the course of the protest.
With respect to the Siwan incident, it’s acknowledged that the deployed drive was insufficient. As such, extra personnel had been known as to complement the police drive. Close to JP Chowk, one of many constables obtained trapped within the crowd and fired 4 rounds from his AK47 within the air. Nobody was injured from the bullets of AK47, the state says.
The state authorities additional claims that in response to the Supreme Courtroom’s instructions, the Addl. DGP of the state has been instructed to protect all video footage and different information. Additional, private info and digital knowledge of protestors, collected in the course of the protest, has been directed to not be disclosed in public area or on social media “in the intervening time”.
As per the affidavit, the state has additionally complied with the path that no particulars of the protestors, particularly college students, shall be revealed. ‘The Bihar Police will not be taking any coercive measures in opposition to the protesting college students who haven’t any felony antecedents’, it states.
Moreover, the state says that every one kids beneath 18 years of age, who had been arrested/detained in reference to the protest however didn’t have felony antecedents, have been launched upon execution of a easy bond by themselves or their members of the family.
The affidavit places on document the truth that between 22.07.2026 and 25.07.2026, whole 69 FIRs had been registered within the State and 500 arrests had been made. As per SC’s instructions, 222 pupil protestors with no felony antecedents had been launched on bail. 75 delinquent kids had been additionally launched by the Juvenile Justice Board.
The state claims that the protest in Bihar turned violent at Gandhi Maidan (close to Ghulam chowk), Jehanabad, Patna, Chapra, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Aurangabad, Katihar, Kishanganj, and Siwan.
At Chapra, on 25.07.2026, it’s acknowledged that the protest was peaceable till midday, however later an unruly mob of anti-social parts merged with the gang and started vandalism and pelting of stones. In these violent acts, 2 BDOs, 3 police inspectors, 2 sub-inspectors and 11 constables had been injured. One BDO misplaced his eye, whereas one other’s head was crushed by a heavy projectile and he’s battling for all times.
Notably, the affidavit attributes the incidents to calls by AISA and RYA (pupil organizations of CPI(ML)), whereas it states that the decision for protest by Cockroach Janta Social gathering on 24.07.2026 didn’t have any seen affect in Bihar.
It’s additional talked about that the constable who fired the AK47 rifle has been put underneath suspension for undesired conduct and departmental proceedings have been initiated.
The affidavit additionally claims that 157 police personnel and seven public servants had been injured within the protest. It concedes the usage of tear gasoline and water canons, which induced accidents to protestors.
