Patna, Jul 27: RJD national working president Tejashwi Yadav on Monday demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged use of an AK-47 rifle during a student protest in Bihar’s Siwan over the NEET paper leak issue.
Yadav, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, also demanded the release of all protesters arrested during the Bihar bandh called by the All India Students’ Association (AISA) on July 25.
He urged the government to release them by Monday night, warning that his party would launch a massive statewide agitation if the deadline is not met.
“Merely suspending a constable for allegedly using an AK-47 rifle during the student protest in Siwan is not enough. A judicial inquiry must be ordered into the incident,” the RJD leader said.
Yadav said Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary must clarify who ordered the use of an AK-47 against the protesters, and explain how the police booked several students on charges of “attempt to murder”.
“I demand that the government release all the arrested students by Monday night. If it fails to do so, the RJD will launch a massive statewide agitation. The central government has already agreed to withdraw all cases against student protesters,” he said.
Earlier in the day, a constable was suspended after a video purportedly showing him using an AK-47 rifle during the student protest in Siwan district on July 25 went viral on social media, officials said.
PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
“The constable, posted with the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), has been suspended with immediate effect after a video purportedly showing him using an AK-47 rifle during the student protest went viral on social media. Departmental proceedings have also been initiated against him. No one was injured in the firing,” Siwan SP Puran Kumar Jha told PTI.
“There were clear instructions to the police force not to open fire during the demonstration,” he said.
Neha Bora, the national president of AISA, who arrived in Patna on Monday, also demanded the immediate release of student protesters and activists associated with Left-wing student organisations, who were arrested during the agitation, along with the withdrawal of all cases registered against them.
“Around 500 student protesters, activists associated with Left-wing student organisations, and Paliganj MLA Sandeep Saurabh – who were arrested during the protests – must be released immediately. I will remain here until they are released. If the government fails to do so, we will launch an agitation similar to the one witnessed in Delhi,” Bora asserted.
She is expected to meet the arrested protesters at Beur Jail in Patna on Monday.
On July 25, members of Left-wing student organisations staged demonstrations and clashed with the police in several districts in support of the Bihar bandh called against the NEET paper leak and police action on protesting students.
The bandh had turned violent in Patna, Saran, Siwan, Aurangabad, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Purnia and Bhojpur, while Samastipur, Nawada, Nalanda, Madhubani and Sheikhpura witnessed mild protests, officials had said. (PTI)
