A policeman in eastern India has been suspended after firing an AK-47 assault rifle into the air to disperse student protesters in Siwan, Bihar—an escalation that has drawn widespread condemnation and reignited debate over shrinking democratic space in the country. Main Developments On Saturday, a constable from an intelligence unit that deals with hard-core criminals aimed an AK-47 at a group of student demonstrators in Siwan and fired at least three shots in the air, according to videos verified by police. Senior Bihar police official Nilesh Kumar confirmed no one was wounded, but called the use of the weapon “wrong” and “not justified in any way,” noting the constable had been issued the assault rifle for his unit's work. The officer was suspended immediately, and Kumar told Reuters that “all sorts of actions will be taken against him.” The incident marks the latest flashpoint in a wave of youth protests that have swept the country, with police accused of using excessive force—including beating students with canes and firing tear gas—against tens of thousands marching to parliament in New Delhi on July 20. Read also: India Protests to Ukraine After Black Sea Attack Kills Indian Sailor Background The protests began after question papers for a national medical college entrance exam—taken by more than 2 million students in May—were leaked, forcing a re-test. The scandal triggered nearly five weeks of demonstrations by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, culminating in the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s education minister on Saturday. Analysts say the protests reflect deeper grievances: high youth unemployment and fears that artificial intelligence could replace jobs in India’s IT back-office sector. Opposition Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge called the police actions “one of the gravest assaults on democracy in our history,” noting that students were “beaten, dragged, and treated like criminals for raising their voices.” Why It Matters The use of a military-grade weapon against unarmed students has intensified criticism of law enforcement tactics and raised questions about the shrinking space for peaceful dissent. In a rare comment from a sitting Supreme Court judge, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said on Saturday that “public space for expressing divergent opinion is shrinking in India,” and affirmed that the right to express views and demonstrate peacefully are fundamental freedoms. The incident has also become a flashpoint in parliament, where both houses were adjourned amid noisy exchanges after government ministers declined to respond to opposition demands for accountability. What's Next The suspended constable faces disciplinary proceedings and possible criminal charges, though no timeline has been announced. The broader protest movement continues, with opposition parties vowing to keep pressure on the government over exam integrity, unemployment, and police conduct. Whether the Modi administration will initiate a wider review of protest policing or address the underlying youth grievances remains an open question.