Indian cop who fired AK-47 at students suspended

The Indian authorities have suspended a cop who fired an AK-47 assault rifle at student protesters in the northeastern state of Bihar.

Protests had flared up in Bihar’s Siwan district in support of the larger student protest in New Delhi, which eventually led to the resignation of the federal education minister over the leaks of question papers of a national entrance test.

The Bihar administration took action against the policeman after the footage of him firing an AK-47 assault rifle was widely shared on social media platforms. Reports said he fired in the air, and three protesters who were not at the scene suffered injuries. They are undergoing treatment at a hospital in the state capital Patna and are stable.

Siwan district magistrate Vivek Ranjan Maitrey told the media that the officer did not have orders to fire his weapon. “He should not have fired in the air. Such a weapon should not have been taken in public,” he said

In New Delhi, a log entry by the paramilitary Rapid Action Force, which was deployed against the protesters, showed that two pellet rounds were fired at the crowd on July 20. The log entry showed that the rounds were fired under orders of a senior Delhi police officer – the capital police had denied firing the weapon at the crowd. 

Pellet guns can cause severe injuries, although classified as less-lethal. At least three people are being treated for pellet injuries to their faces, necks, and upper bodies in Delhi.

The issue of state violence against the students was raised in Parliament by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday. The upper house, the Lok Sabha, also took up a bill that mandates stringent punishment for exam malpractice – an offer that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made to the agitating students. Parliament adjourned for the day soon after, amid disruptions caused by opposition demands for accountability over police actions.

Meanwhile, India’s Supreme Court directed all states to release students below the age of 18 who were arrested or detained during the nationwide protests, provided they have no criminal records.

READ MORE: India’s education minister resigns after weeks of protests

The top court’s directive came while hearing petitions about the use of excessive force by police during the protests.

The satirical Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) movement, which led the rallies, alleged that at least 100 people were arrested across the country, many on non-bailable charges. One of its key demands was the release of the arrested protesters, without any legal action.

On Tuesday, just past midnight, CJP leaders said government negotiators had assured them of fulfilling that demand. “No protester will be left alone,” Saurav Das, one of the CJP leaders, tweeted. 

A task force has been set up by the Indian government under technocrat and founder of Indian tech major Infosys, Nandan Nilekani, to suggest exam reforms.