Patna, August 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Bihar Police Headquarters has directed district police chiefs to restrict the carrying and use of AK-47s, INSAS rifles and Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs) during routine law-and-order and crowd-control duties, officials said on Thursday.
The directive is aimed at ensuring that police response to protests and demonstrations remains proportionate and that highly lethal weapons are not used in situations that do not warrant them.
ADG (Police Headquarters) Sunil Kumar said Director General of Police Vinay Kumar had reiterated the standing instructions to all Superintendents of Police. Automatic and assault weapons can be used only during operations involving organised crime, insurgency, terrorism and other serious criminal threats.
Sunil Kumar said the department already had a standing order on the issue and had previously taken disciplinary action against personnel who used such weapons without authorisation. District police chiefs have now been asked to ensure strict compliance.
The move comes amid controversy over a July 25 student protest in Siwan, where a police constable allegedly opened fire.
ADG (Law and Order) K.S. Anupam said the constable had not been ordered to fire and was not part of the designated crowd-control team. He was suspended immediately after the incident.
“There was no order, and he fired at his own discretion. He was not even part of the crowd-control team,” Anupam said.
The incident has become a political flashpoint in Bihar, with Leader of Opposition and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav repeatedly demanding accountability over the police action against protesting students.
The RJD has announced a march to the Raj Bhavan in Patna on August 19 over the incident. Tejashwi Yadav is expected to lead party MLAs, MLCs and workers during the protest.
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