In Bihar, political confrontation over competitive examination paper leaks and testing irregularities reached a boiling point as RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav took to the streets, leading a massive march toward Raj Bhavan in Patna. Marking his first street protest with slogan-shouting in five years, the opposition leader spearheaded thousands of party workers who gathered at Gandhi Maidan carrying national tricolor flags. The demonstration, organized to demand accountability for student grievances, quickly escalated into a tense standoff with security personnel who had set up elaborate barricading to halt the marchers.
Water Cannons and Police Detention at Income Tax Chauraha
Security forces had made extensive preparations across Patna to regulate the demonstration and prevent protesters from approaching key government administrative installations. Party workers were initially allowed to march from Gandhi Maidan up to Income Tax Chauraha. However, as the crowd attempted to breach the police perimeter to move further toward Raj Bhavan, the atmosphere grew increasingly heated. Police personnel abstained from resorting to a lathicharge or using physical force against the demonstration. Instead, law enforcement deployed high-pressure water cannons to disperse the protesters who were actively trying to remove the heavy wooden and metal barricades.
Drenched by the continuous jets of water, Tejashwi Yadav climbed atop the barricades himself, shouting slogans directly targeting Samrat Choudhary's government. Security personnel subsequently took Tejashwi Yadav into custody, placing him aboard a police bus. Following a brief detention, officers transported the RJD leader and released him outside the RJD party headquarters in Patna.
Demands Over AK-47 Firing and Youth Rights
Speaking after his release outside the party office, Tejashwi Yadav launched a scathing attack on the state administration. He alleged that the Bihar government is actively attempting to crush and suppress the legitimate voice of the state's youth. Tejashwi Yadav asserted that his party would continue its agitation relentlessly until the state government explicitly clarifies who authorized the firing of an AK-47 assault rifle during recent student demonstrations.
The controversy stems directly from a recent incident in Siwan, where a police officer discharged an AK-47 rifle into the air during a student demonstration. Although no casualties or injuries were reported from the gunfire, footage showing the police constable firing the military-grade assault rifle quickly circulated online. Tejashwi Yadav seized upon the viral video to turn the incident into a central political weapon against Samrat Choudhary's government.
Mock AK-47 Demonstration and BJP Counter-Attack
During the Raj Bhavan march in Patna, RJD workers highlighted the Siwan incident by carrying 2 dummy AK-47 rifles amidst the crowds. Demonstrators staged a dramatic mock enactment along the march route, portraying police personnel firing AK-47 rifles directly at protesting students. The theatrical display drew sharp criticism from the ruling political quarters.
The Bharatiya Janata Party strongly condemned the usage of fake weaponry in the protest, terming it a clear reflection of the RJD's underlying political mindset. Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi issued a stern rebuttal, reminding the public that open firings involving AK-47 rifles were a hallmark of Bihar during Lalu Yadav's regime. Sanjay Saraogi claimed that Tejashwi Yadav is attempting to drag the state back into that previous era of lawlessness and violence.
Police Clarification and Political Context
Political observers note that Tejashwi Yadav has secured a major political opportunity after a considerable period and is attempting to maximize its political impact. However, the opposition's campaign has concentrated almost exclusively on the single issue of who ordered the AK-47 firing in Siwan.
Addressing the controversy, police officials issued a detailed clarification regarding the Siwan shooting. According to law enforcement, the constable who discharged the AK-47 was not assigned to law enforcement duties related to crowd control. The officer happened to be passing through the location during the demonstration and fired warning shots into the air. Police authorities emphasized that it was fortunate no bystanders or students were hit by the gunfire. The police department confirmed that the officer involved has been placed under immediate suspension.
This protest follows a series of recent confrontations over student issues in Bihar. Earlier, Tejashwi Yadav attracted significant attention with his initial statement reacting to the arrest of his elder brother Tej Pratap and several protesting students, during which he had similarly issued a strong warning of statewide public agitations.
