Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Bihar Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav led a march towards Raj Bhavan in Patna on Wednesday to protest the alleged use of an AK-47 during a student protest in Siwan.
Yadav began the march from JP Golambar, with around 5,000 supporters accompanying him on the approximately 5-km route. The protesters carried the Tricolour and raised slogans against the Bihar government.
Barricades Breached, Water Cannons Used
Yadav and his supporters broke through police barricades at Dakbungalow Crossing as they proceeded towards Raj Bhavan.
Police later used water cannons against the protesters near Income Tax Crossing. Some activists were seen throwing water bottles at police personnel.
Some protesters also carried wooden replicas of AK-47 rifles during the march.
ASP (Law and Order) Krishna Murari Prasad instructed police personnel to respect the national flag and use lathis judiciously while dealing with the protesters.
Tejashwi Demands Action Against Siwan Officials
The march follows Tejashwi Yadav’s demand for action against senior officials in Siwan over the firing incident during a student protest.
Yadav has demanded the suspension of Siwan DM Vivek Ranjan Maitreya and then SP Puran Kumar Jha, arguing that their transfer alone would not be sufficient.
The state government has removed Maitreya from the post of Siwan DM and placed him in the General Administration Department, where he is awaiting a new posting.
Jha has also been removed as Siwan SP and placed on the waiting list. Bharat Soni has been appointed as the new Siwan SP.
Dispute Over AK-47 Firing
At a press conference on Tuesday, Yadav questioned who authorised the use of an AK-47 during the student protest. He said he had visited students who were injured in the incident.
Yadav also referred to a statement made by Union minister Kiren Rijiju in the Rajya Sabha that no firing had taken place, and contrasted it with what he described as the Bihar government’s affidavit acknowledging that firing occurred.
He demanded that the government explain how an AK-47 was fired without authorisation.
Lalu Yadav Appeals For Participation
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav had on Tuesday appealed to party workers and Bihar’s youth to participate in the march.
In a post on X, he criticised the government over the issue and said, “Modi-ji, eat dal-bhat, but don’t devour the youth’s future.”
ऐ मोदी जी,
दाल-भात खाओ बट यूथ का फ़्यूचर मत खाओ!l pic.twitter.com/R9BcnH1Q0M
— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) August 18, 2026
The RJD has positioned the march as a protest against the handling of the Siwan incident and the government’s response to the alleged firing.
