The Bihar Police on Thursday (August 13, 2026) banned the use of “automatic and assault weapons” during maintaining law and order and said their use would be only in cases related to organised crime and militancy. Earlier, a policeman in Siwan town of Bihar was caught on camera firing with AK-47 on protesting students, triggering anger.
ALSO WATCH ‘Barbaric’: Opposition condemns AK-47 firing at Siwan protest
Earlier on August 12, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav questioned the use of AK-47 on protesting students and asked the government why there was no action yet against the Siwan Superintendent of Police? Mr. Yadav announced a State-wide protest on August 19 over the incident.
“The Director General of Police has instructed all Superintendents of Police that automatic and assault weapons will not be used to maintain law and order; their use will be in cases of organised crimes, militancy, or other matters,” Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Headquarters, Patna, Sunil Kumar told media persons. When asked about the order given to the policeman who had fired with AK-47 on protesting students on July 25 in Siwan town, ADG, (Law and Order) K.S. Anupam said, “there was no order as such...he [the policeman] had fired on his own accord. He was not even part of the police team handling the crowd”.
