Patna, Bihar: Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav was detained by police on Wednesday during a protest march organized by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Patna against the alleged use of an AK-47 rifle by a police constable during a student protest in Siwan last month.
The protest, which also saw the participation of RJD MPs, MLAs and senior leaders, was held to demand answers from the Bihar government over the incident that triggered widespread criticism and renewed debate over the handling of student-related protests in the state.
The march began at JP Golambar and was planned towards Raj Bhavan. During the protest, police used water cannons to disperse the demonstrators. One protester was also seen carrying a dummy AK-47 rifle as part of the demonstration.
Speaking during the agitation, Tejashwi Yadav said the opposition would continue its protest until justice was delivered to students. He accused the government of trying to suppress public anger instead of addressing the issue.
"We will continue our fight until justice is delivered to the students," he said.
Tejashwi also alleged that the police action during the march was carried out on the instructions of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. He said such measures would not stop the agitation and claimed that people had become aware of the issues facing students and the unemployed.
RJD MP Misa Bharti also joined the march and raised concerns about paper leaks, unemployment and the difficulties faced by students and youth in Bihar. She questioned the state's response to the Siwan incident and said the government should explain who authorised the use of an AK-47 during the protest.
According to reports, a police constable was later suspended after a video allegedly showing him using an AK-47 during a student protest in Siwan on July 25 went viral on social media. The protest was linked to anger over an NEET paper leak. Police had said no one was injured in the firing and an inquiry was initiated since officers had been instructed not to open fire during the demonstration.
RJD leader Manoj Jha, who also participated in the march, said students and youth in Bihar and across the country were frustrated over repeated paper leaks and unemployment. He said young people wanted concrete solutions rather than political slogans.
RJD MLA Alok Kumar Mehta said the party was marching in support of students and youth to submit a memorandum to the Governor, highlighting the paper leak issue and other concerns. He added that the Governor should hear the grievances since the government had failed to respond adequately.
The protest has added to the political tensions in Bihar, with the opposition continuing to press the state government for accountability over the Siwan incident and broader recruitment-related concerns.
