- 4 weeks ago
During nationwide student agitations over NEET, police action in Bihar’s Siwan sparked severe controversy after a constable fired an AK-47 during a protest. The Bihar police suspended the constable, maintaining that four aerial rounds were fired to protect lives and public property. Amid political debate and demands for judicial inquiry, the Bihar government announced a major decision to withdraw all FIRs, complaints, and cases registered against protesters up to 6:00 PM on July 26, while promising the release of detained students without retaliatory action. Simultaneously, the central government notified an Education Task Force led by Nandan Nilekani to reform the National Testing Agency and prevent paper leaks. In an exclusive interview on News Track, panel member and IIT Madras Director Professor V Kamakoti emphasised that while scale makes technology intervention essential, robust protocols and third-party oversight are necessary to ensure secure, transparent, and leak-proof examination systems across India.
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00:07good evening this is the news track and I'm maria shakil the images of me protest
00:12cracked down not just in capital but in Bihar Kolkata in West Bengal are dominating the headlines
00:19and AK-47 in Bihar Sivan actually has everyone watching hundreds of arrests across the states
00:29have turned a student's movement into a nationwide debate on police action and accountability the
00:35Bihar administration has said there was no order to open fire the constable scene with assault rifle
00:41has been suspended and the police have issued their own explanation we have police in a statement
00:46has said that he opened fire to protect life and government property police maintain that 91
00:51personnel were injured and 14 government vehicles were damaged during the violence arguing that force
00:58was used amidst protests but the images have already sparked demands for judicial inquiries
01:04reached Parliament and prompted the CJP to issue a fresh 24-hour ultimatum to the center and as the
01:11battle intensifies politically the Supreme Court has sent a clear message as well that peaceful protest
01:17is a constitutional right and police action must remain proportionate before I bring in the guests
01:23here's a report
01:35an AK-47 fired during a student protest days after pellet gun allegations and a lathe charge in Delhi the
01:45spotlight is now on police action and nowhere more than in Bihar
01:56these July 25th visuals from Sivan have become the defining image of the agitation a police constable
02:04seen firing an AK-47 as Bihar Bandh turned violent the Bihar administration admits that there was no order to
02:13open fire not even for aerial firing the constable Abhishek Kumar has been suspended departmental
02:19proceedings are now underway
02:21and for our decision he thought I'm going to have a firing movie and make a new charity
02:33Bihar police says that the constable fired four rounds into the air after being surrounded by protesters in
02:39order to protect lives and government property it maintains that no one at the firing spot was
02:44injured the three injured persons were found one and a half to two kilometers away they are out of
02:50danger and separate FIIs have been registered based on their statements meanwhile the crackdown has widened
02:57350 plus arrests hundreds of suspects identified and multiple FIIs registered Rahul Gandhi has accused the
03:07government of silencing students while the RJD has demanded a judicial inquiry into the Sivan firing
03:12the opposition is demanding a statement from home minister Amit Shah
03:18police officer Amit Khas
03:20police officer Amit Khan
03:27police officers
03:28public
03:30police
03:31police
03:31police
03:47The NDA has defended the administration, accusing the opposition of politicizing the issue.
04:01While he tweeted and he spoke about police using AK-47 on the student protest, solving is not the purpose
04:09of Mr. Rahul Gandhi.
04:11Trying to create furore, trying to create manufactured anger, trying to manufacture a protest and above all trying to create
04:19anarchy.
04:20The CJP has now issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the centre, demanding withdrawal of all FIRs against protesting students.
04:44The debate has now moved beyond the paper leak.
04:54It is about police action, political accountability and whether the response to student protests crossed the line.
05:02Bureau Report, India Today.
05:12And in a major climb down following days of student protests, the Bihar government has now announced four decisions on
05:19the police action linked to meet agitation.
05:22The government has said that there will be no punitive or retaliatory action will be taken against those who participated
05:28in the protest till 6 p.m. on July 26th.
05:31It has also promised to begin the process of withdrawing all FIRs, complaints and chokos notices that have been registered
05:38before that deadline.
05:39Further, it has said that those arrested or detained in cases registered before 6 p.m. on July 26th will
05:46be released.
05:47And the government has assured that no direct or indirect action will be taken in future against those who have
05:54been named in these cases.
05:56Rohit is joining us live.
05:57Rohit, give us the details.
05:58Why this emphasis of 6 p.m. on 26th?
06:05Well, absolutely, the breaking news at this moment is that the Bihar government has taken a big, big decision of
06:13withdrawing all cases, all FIRs that have been registered till 26th of July 6 p.m.
06:22That's the deadline that has been referred to by the home department of the state government.
06:28And a short while back, there has been a press release that has been sent out about this declaration that
06:33the state government has decided that any FIR, any cases that have been registered against protesters till 6 p.m.
06:41on 26th of July, all these FIRs, all these cases will be taken back and no action will be taken
06:49against any of these protesters.
06:51Also, any protester who is inside the jail, who has already been sent to jail, they will also be released.
06:58So this is a big, big move by the Bihar government.
07:02And remember, a couple of days back, when that agreement took place between the center and the Kaukrat Janata Party
07:09that all FIRs, all cases will be withdrawn in Delhi and other parts of the country also where these protests
07:17were going on,
07:17there was massive pressure building on the India government here in Bihar.
07:23And remember, since the time Tejasvi Adham also returned from abroad yesterday, he was also raising his issue.
07:29All right, Rohit, thank you so much. Let me bring in my guests who are joining us right now.
07:32Vikram Singh, security expert and former IPS officer.
07:35SP Ware, the security expert and former IPS officer.
07:39We have R.P. Singh, BJP National Spokesperson and Syed Larayb Akram is someone who is associated with the student
07:47wing of the RJD and is also a National Spokesperson.
07:51Let me begin with R.P. Singh.
07:54R.P. Singh AK-47 is an assault rifle.
07:57It is usually deployed when police forces are fighting terrorists or extremists like Maoists.
08:05And here it is being used in Siwaan in Bihar.
08:09Well, what was the situation on the ground?
08:12That's more important.
08:13I mean, we can assess this here in the TV channel or in a TV studio.
08:18But what was the reason that he picked up the gun and he did the fire in the air?
08:25See, he made...
08:27He has been suspended, R.P. Singh.
08:29So certainly the cops...
08:30I know, I know.
08:31I know he has been suspended.
08:32I know he has been suspended.
08:34I know he has been suspended.
08:35I also know that the Bihar police has already taken a decision to withdraw all the cases against the students
08:41who are involved in this whole of this process.
08:45But that's fine to say, again, I retreat.
08:47What's the condition which happened?
08:48And does this need to be inquired?
08:50This is not that, okay, we all condemn it, but even then it needs to be inquired.
08:55Without inquiry, we can't hang a person.
08:58The fact that he has been suspended is an indication and what Bihar police is saying that he was not
09:04supposed to be there.
09:08Mariah, we generally jump on things very fast.
09:12No, no, we are not jumping.
09:13This is...
09:13I'm going with what Bihar police has said.
09:15Can I complete a sentence, Mariah?
09:16Can I complete a sentence?
09:18Other day, you were talking about the Chief Justice of India that he has said every use of the caucus.
09:22Whereas I have gone through the complete detail of the Chief Justice of India.
09:24He said only those who are...
09:26Are we saying let's stick to what I'm asking, please?
09:28No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
09:29Because we are in the habit of jumping to conclusions very fast.
09:33Whereas Chief Justice of India never said anything of that sort against the youth of the country.
09:37Okay.
09:38So, it was specifically to certain element and certain reason.
09:42But again, I'm saying it's highly condemnable that he used that...
09:46Okay, you're condemning it.
09:48Let me bring in SP Ved.
09:49SP Ved, an AK-47 is never, never used to contain civilian protests.
10:00Maria, absolutely.
10:01As far as this point is concerned, we don't use...
10:04Normally, AK-47 rifle is an assault rifle used against anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
10:11But, you know, when we joined service, we used to have 303 rifles.
10:18But these days, not only in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, having seen terrorism...
10:23Now, most of the states have procured AK-47 rifles.
10:26And we have officers with their escorts and their protection contingent, maybe PSOs and all.
10:35They are now armed with AK-47 rifles.
10:39And then, when officers go there, I think the officer's concern should have taken care.
10:46The constable should not have used this on the crowd, pointing towards the crowd.
10:52Even if it was fired in the air, that should have actually avoided any harm.
11:01But let's go by, because as R.P. Singh Saab was saying, we do not know all the details about...
11:07We have just seen the statement of Bihar police.
11:11So, initially, they have, I think, taken cognizance of it and placed him under suspension, pending inquiry.
11:19So, what I am told, he was PSO, personal security officer of the superintendent of police.
11:26So, if superintendent of police has been hit, I am told, by stones.
11:32And in Jammu and Kashmir, we have seen people even dying in stone pelting.
11:38I have, even, I was DTP post Burhanwani situation.
11:44Many policemen and CAPF officers and jawans were killed in the stone pelting.
11:49And that's why you must have seen the use of pellet gun in large numbers in Jammu and Kashmir.
11:58And even, at some places, the use of firearms.
12:02Siwan is not Jammu and Kashmir.
12:05I agree. I'm coming to that point.
12:08So, while the protest of students, we all have sympathies.
12:12Any sensible police officer would like to use minimum force and certainly not firearm for the control of the student's
12:24agitation.
12:25But, as we saw in Delhi, we don't know, as I said, we don't know the whole picture.
12:32So, let's wait for the inquiry.
12:34Let's see.
12:35A lot of unanswered questions.
12:37Okay, while we discuss the circumstances, Vikram Singh, an AK-47 never should have been issued, particularly, to a policeman
12:49who was deployed to contain a civilian protest.
12:53So, the questions will be asked also to the armory in charge.
12:59Maria, there is a very well laid out protocol, very well calibrated.
13:03Who will sport an AK-47, whether issued singly or in multiples?
13:08When it is given to a platoon, the entire platoon is not, but only a section of the platoon is
13:13given the AK-47.
13:15Because it's an expensive and exclusive weapon, it has to be guarded.
13:18And if this boy happened to be the personal escort officer of the superintendent police, all the more reason that
13:25the SP should have controlled and contained him, it cannot be an advantage display.
13:30Not only just the display, but the use of the firearm.
13:33There are contradictory opinions, versions of the Bihar police.
13:36One says the 35 rounds were fired.
13:39The other version says seven rounds were fired.
13:42First of all, do not give your statements in a state of panic.
13:45Be very sure, do your homework, and then say, you can't contradict yourself in every five minutes that it was...
13:51There's a world of difference between 35 rounds and seven rounds.
13:55But you have admitted that rounds were fired.
13:57It is bad enough.
13:58It is worse still that you're not very clear as to how many rounds were fired.
14:02But the fact of the matter is, in a civil disturbance, AK-47 is just not the weapon to be
14:07used.
14:08There are multiple alternatives which are non-lethal.
14:11They should have been exhausted first.
14:12And then only you take a recourse to the rubber bullet.
14:18And after the rubber bullet, it is then that you take a recourse.
14:20The only example where automatic weapons were used in the country was in the year 2018, 22nd May, 2.3,
14:27where 13 people were killed and all the entire firing party was not only dismissed from service,
14:33sent to jail, they lost their jobs, and it was a disgrace to the police department.
14:38Let us not quote the SP of disaster.
14:40Okay.
14:41Okay.
14:41Arpi Singh, will you come in here?
14:43Yeah.
14:44As I said, I mean, it needs to complete inquiry.
14:47It's highly condemnable.
14:49I also said that.
14:50But again, let there be inquiry.
14:53Let us know the complete threats.
14:55How many rounds he fired?
14:57Who gave him the gun?
14:58How could he procure the gun?
14:59How could he take the gun along?
15:01Even as a PSO, then what was he doing in the protest?
15:05So, all just need to inquire.
15:07But again, not me and you who will decide on it.
15:10There is a proper commission inquiry which will happen.
15:13And that will let us know the facts.
15:15Yes.
15:16But again.
15:16An inquiry has started.
15:19Then why is politics continuing on this Akram?
15:24Thank you very much, Maria.
15:27And I'm comfortable in Hindi.
15:29I will do some language.
15:32First of all, today, we have an update.
16:06We have a call from Bihar.
16:06We have a call from Bihar, which is in my opinion.
16:13I have a call from Bihar, which is in my opinion.
16:14Akram, come to the point, please.
16:17Come to the point, please.
16:19Yes, I have a point.
16:19Bihar has done every patrol party with the AK-47 rifle and AK-47 rifle.
16:26And Bihar is going to be a police state as a whole.
16:30There is no discussion here.
16:55You know, there's no question in the 잘�less scene.
17:00There is no issue now.
17:01This what is on picture.
17:01It was reparative of street trees
17:02in Tisha Mahpoor.
17:13You are really debating what has happened just a few minutes ago
17:20is something that will come as a relief for the opposition
17:24and also for the need protesters
17:25because there will be no retaliatory action.
17:28FIRs will be withdrawn
17:30and arrested protesters will be released
17:32has been announced by the special secretary in Bihar.
17:36So that's the news that's coming in for everyone.
17:39Let me go back to the two cops on the panel
17:42and get a word from SP Ved.
17:44SP Ved, be it Delhi or Bihar,
17:47what is becoming clear is that there has been disproportionate use of force.
17:51While the cops say that there were anti-social elements
17:55which had penetrated these protests,
17:57but the question is also that it began as a civilian, peaceful student protest.
18:06Maria, I will beg to differ with you.
18:09Not in case of Delhi, there was a disproportionate use of force.
18:12It was the kind of violence we witnessed on the social media and the main media,
18:20injuring about 130 policemen, including almost lynching of a RAF Javan.
18:29I don't think it was violence was any less.
18:35And does this country want that the march should have been allowed to proceed to parliament?
18:43Police in this country is damned if they act, and it is damned if they do not act.
18:48If, just imagine, if these protesters had gone inside the parliament
18:54and a scene like what you saw in Washington, D.C.,
18:58when Donald Trump was addressing a rally,
19:01and you have seen those Capitol Hill scenes,
19:05do we want something like that?
19:07Do we want anarchy like what we saw in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka?
19:18Let the people in this country decide.
19:21Police have to...
19:22A quick word on from you, Vikram Singh.
19:24I have just around 30 seconds for you, sir.
19:27Maria, this kind of violence that Delhi saw was unprecedented,
19:30130 officers, including the very senior and women police officers,
19:34absolutely brutalized and bullied to pulp.
19:3725 vehicles touched.
19:38Under these circumstances, what the force was used was absolutely minimal,
19:43I would say, and very, very proportionate.
19:45And I would not blame the Delhi police for that.
19:47If I were there, it would have been much, much more than that.
19:49Okay.
19:50So, it's a completely different thing as far as Delhi is concerned and Bihar.
19:54Really appreciate your time.
20:25and make India's examination system more secure and transparent.
20:29And ahead of the discussion, I spoke to Professor V. Kamakoti,
20:33who is the director of IIT Madras and also a member of this panel.
20:37I'm leaving you with this exclusive excerpt.
20:39Thank you so much.
20:41What exactly, according to you, sir, ails India's examination system?
20:46Is it a technology failure, a governance failure, or both?
20:49And one may ask that is a genuine overhaul realistic,
20:54or are we looking at more, some kind of an incremental patchwork,
20:58which is dressed up as reform?
21:05So, okay.
21:06So, Maria, just let me just start with my J.E. days in 1985,
21:10where 5,000 candidates wrote the exam.
21:13It was a paper and pen exam, a subjective exam.
21:15And today, when we look at 1.5 million aspirants are there for the J.E. and admissions to IIT.
21:24So, from 5,000 to 1.5 million in a matter of around 40 years is a massive growth.
21:30And so, examination, conduction at scale is now the challenge,
21:37and that technology intervention is imminent, right?
21:41And we started off from paper and pen.
21:45We went to OMR.
21:49We shared the choices, etc.
21:52From the OMR, we went to CBT, the computer-based disk.
21:56And still, NEIT had been on OMR because there was a necessity that it must be a single session one.
22:05So, this is overall stuff.
22:07As the panel's technologist, alongside Nanda Nilikani, what's your specific mandate?
22:14You know, since you are putting a lot of emphasis on root of trust,
22:18that has been broken by paper setters.
22:22And so, would you then say that it is not about technology, more about integrity?
22:27Then how will you address it?
22:31No, I say...
22:33I didn't say it is not about technology, to be very clear.
22:38I was just explaining why the leak happened in NEIT 2026,
22:45as per reports that we see in the media from the CBI, right?
22:50So, I didn't say it's technology.
22:53As such, I've been telling that this whole scale,
22:57if you want to execute this at scale,
22:59this cannot happen without technology.
23:02Technology is prime here.
23:03And that's why, you know, Nandanji will add the best value here
23:08because he has been, he founded one of the great companies,
23:11Infosys, which has looked at large-scale digital technology deployment at scale, right, large-scale.
23:18And similarly, we are also looking at, he did the entire Aadha,
23:22the digital public interface, infrastructure, the DPM.
23:26So, that's why.
23:28So, technology is very, very important here.
23:30The reason why, you know, you asked the question whether this is patchwork or reform,
23:37every step is a reform, it's not a patchwork, but it's a reform.
23:42And what happened between NEIT 2024 to NEIT 2026?
23:47I was just explaining that the reform that was done
23:50actually protected the question paper from the point it left NTA
23:54till it landed in the hands of a student in the examination centre.
23:59That whole process was foolproof.
24:00No leak happened there.
24:02A leak happened before it.
24:03So, I was just explaining that part.
24:06So, since you built India's indigenous Shakti microprocessor,
24:12secure homegrown systems,
24:14does that experience really shape how you will make exam infrastructure tamper-proof?
24:21And, Professor, tell me, realistically,
24:24can that kind of overhaul happen before the next examination cycle?
24:32So, the goal will be to see the maximum possible, you know, steps to ensure the two,
24:44again, the two things like,
24:46I need to have a transparent at the leak-proof examination
24:49that will, whatever maximum steps that is possible,
24:53we will certainly try, recommend,
24:54and then see that, you know, the agency is implemented.
24:58So, that's the one thing.
25:00So, as such, if you see, you know,
25:04this year, you know,
25:06the second NEIT actually happened without any problem, right?
25:10The NEIT, the re-NEIT, right?
25:12So, there are a lot of lessons
25:15that are put in place
25:17between the first NEIT and the second NEIT,
25:20and those has ensured that the second NEIT actually happened without any issues.
25:25So, there are no question paper leak.
25:27Results were declared, and, you know,
25:30and the other, our next process has started.
25:34So, I think,
25:36see, systems do exist, processes do exist,
25:40protocols do exist.
25:42One of the important things is to have a complete third-party view.
25:50One of the important things is to have a complete third-party view.
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