New Delhi, July 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday criticised the BJP-led Centre over the alleged use of force against student protesters, questioning the reported use of an AK-47 rifle during the July 25 Bihar Bandh demonstrations and demanding accountability.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Priyanka Gandhi questioned the police action against students and expressed concern over reports of criminal cases being registered against protesters.
“First guns, now AK-47s, pellet guns! Are they terrorists? What’s wrong with these people?” she said, referring to the reported use of force during protests.
She also alleged that FIRs had been registered against students in Bihar and West Bengal, accusing the government of continuing its “old habits” of suppressing protests.
Referring to unverified reports, Priyanka Gandhi claimed that parents of some girl students were allegedly being questioned about permitting their daughters to participate in demonstrations. “I have heard, though I have not verified it, that the parents of several girls are being threatened and questioned about why they allowed their daughters to participate in the protest. What does this mean? Can’t girls in India take part in protests?” she said.
Congress MP K.C. Venugopal also criticised the alleged use of force, questioning the deployment of an AK-47 during the Bihar protests and seeking an explanation from the Centre. He also referred to the reported use of pellet guns during protests in Delhi, asking whether students and young protesters were being treated as terrorists.
The political criticism comes after Bihar Police suspended a police personnel following the circulation of a viral video purportedly showing him firing an AK-47 rifle during clashes with protesters in Siwan district on July 25.
According to official information, the suspension was ordered by the Bihar Police Headquarters after the video surfaced on social media. A departmental inquiry has been initiated to determine whether the use of the firearm was in accordance with prescribed police procedures.
Police officials said maintaining law and order remains their primary responsibility and any deviation from established protocols would be dealt with seriously. The findings of the inquiry will determine whether further disciplinary or legal action is required.
The July 25 Bihar Bandh witnessed widespread protests by student organisations across the state, with clashes reported between demonstrators and police in several districts.
Three injured protesters are currently undergoing treatment at Jayprabha Medanta Hospital in Patna and are reported to be in stable condition. Among them is 15-year-old Md. Arif, whose family said he was returning home after closing a local shop when he sustained a bullet injury during the unrest. Doctors successfully removed the bullet during surgery.
The inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the firing is continuing.
FOLLOW NOW
