India suspends policeman for firing AK-47 at student protesters amid exam leak anger

A policeman in India's eastern state of Bihar has been suspended for firing an AK-47 in the air to disperse student protesters, an incident that has intensified a wave of youth demonstrations. The protests erupted over leaked question papers for a national medical college entrance exam, an issue that has already forced the federal education minister to resign.

Videos circulating on social media show the policeman, part of an intelligence unit, firing at least three shots into the air towards a group of students in Siwan city. A senior police official, Nilesh Kumar, stated that the constable used the assault rifle "wrongly" and without justification, leading to his suspension and the promise of further action.

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The AK-47 was used by the constable wrongly. It cannot be justified in any way. He used it wrongly, because they were students. There was no need of doing so. That is why he has been suspended. All sorts of actions will be taken against him.

The exam paper leaks, affecting over 2 million students and necessitating a re-test, are the primary trigger for the protests. However, analysts suggest that broader concerns, including youth unemployment and anxieties about AI potentially displacing workers in sectors like IT, are also fueling the demonstrations.

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It is one of the gravest assaults on democracy in our history. Never before have students been beaten, dragged, and treated like criminals for raising their voices. In Bihar, reports indicate use of AK-47 against students. Those responsible cannot escape accountability.

Opposition parties have seized on the police actions, with Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge calling the events "one of the gravest assaults on democracy." He specifically cited the use of an AK-47 against students in Bihar, demanding accountability. Government ministers remained silent as parliament adjourned amid the uproar.

Criticism of police conduct has been widespread, with a Supreme Court judge noting a "shrinking" public space for dissent in India. The incident underscores the growing discontent among India's youth, who are grappling with educational integrity, job security, and the response of authorities to their protests.

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It will not be an exaggeration to say that public space for expressing divergent opinion is shrinking in India.