In a dramatic gesture, Kailash Mandal, a criminal from Bhagalpur district in Bihar, discarded his firearm into the Ganga after praying and vowing to abandon his life of crime. Mandal, who recently left prison, is facing several serious charges, including murder and extortion. His actions were filmed and shared widely on social media, where he can be seen chanting Vedic mantras and declaring his commitment to a crime-free life. This incident comes amid a notable increase in police encounters in Bihar, following the appointment of Samrat Choudhary as chief minister. Since his assumption of office, there have been seven police encounters, resulting in two fatalities among criminals. The BJP and JD(U) political parties have reacted strongly, with calls for the public to socially boycott criminals and for Mandal to face legal consequences. JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar stated that merely discarding a weapon does not absolve Mandal of his past actions, emphasizing the importance of accountability under the law.