News Analysis India

Tag: Bihar police

  • Cops suspended for throwing accident victim’s body into canal in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur

    By PTI

    MUZAFFARPUR: Bihar Police on Sunday suspended three cops who were caught on camera while dumping remains of an accident victim into a canal near Dhodhi canal bridge in Fakuli outpost area of Muzaffarpur district, police said.

    A video of the incident had gone viral on social media earlier in the day.

    According to a statement by the office of the senior superintendent of police (SSP), Muzaffarpur, “Authenticity of the video was examined and it turned out to be genuine. It’s an unfortunate incident and the cops who were present there failed to perform their duty properly. The driver constable involved has been suspended, while the contracts of two home guard jawans on duty has been terminated”.

    Parts of the body that could be salvaged were sent for postmortem, it said, adding the identity of the victim could not be ascertained so far.

    The footage, captured by a passerby, revealed two police officers dragging the blood-soaked body of a man when a third policeman accompanied them to help.

    They were also seen using their batons to push a body (probably the victim) into the canal.

    MUZAFFARPUR: Bihar Police on Sunday suspended three cops who were caught on camera while dumping remains of an accident victim into a canal near Dhodhi canal bridge in Fakuli outpost area of Muzaffarpur district, police said.

    A video of the incident had gone viral on social media earlier in the day.

    According to a statement by the office of the senior superintendent of police (SSP), Muzaffarpur, “Authenticity of the video was examined and it turned out to be genuine. It’s an unfortunate incident and the cops who were present there failed to perform their duty properly. The driver constable involved has been suspended, while the contracts of two home guard jawans on duty has been terminated”.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Parts of the body that could be salvaged were sent for postmortem, it said, adding the identity of the victim could not be ascertained so far.

    The footage, captured by a passerby, revealed two police officers dragging the blood-soaked body of a man when a third policeman accompanied them to help.

    They were also seen using their batons to push a body (probably the victim) into the canal.

  • Katihar incident: SP says deaths not due to police action, claims ‘unidentified person opened fire’

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Katihar Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar on Friday informed that the death of two persons and injuries to another one during a violent protest against irregular power supply was not caused by police firing. The official claimed that bullet fired by an unidentified person in the mob killed the protestors.  

    The deceased were identified as Khursheed Alam and Sonu Kumar Sah.

    The SP released a video footage of the incident to substantiate his claim. “Today we reached the spot for physical verification of the incident that took place on Wednesday. During investigation, we checked the video footage of the incident. We noticed that a youth came from the direction where the first death tookplace and opened fire. The bullet hit another victim,” he said.

    Kumar said that the gun-toting man can be seen opening fire causing injuries to two bystanders killing Khurdsheed Alam on the spot and Sonu Kumar Sah succumbed to his injuries during treatment in the hospital. The third victim identified as Neyaz Alam is undergoing treatment at a hospital in West Bengal, SP added.

    Efforts were on to ascertain the identity of the man who fired at the victims during the protest against irregular power supply in Barsoi subdivisional area of the district.

    “During verification of the spot where the first victim was hit by bullets we came to know that it was almost for the bullet fired by the police to have hit the deceased as claimed by people,” Kumar revealed.

    #WATCH | Bihar: CCTV visuals of the Katihar firing incident.(Video source: IPRD) pic.twitter.com/qO1lhKtKwM
    — ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2023
    Katihar district magistrate Ravi Prakash said that two separate FIRs were registered at Barsoi police station in connection with the incident. While the first FIR has been lodged by the electricity department, second FIR has been registered by the police, DM said, adding that the complaint of one of the deceasedSonu Sah’s family has been clubbed with the two FIRs.

    According to reliable sources, a two-member team comprising an additional collector and a DSP has been formed to conduct further investigation. “We will share more information after the investigation,” DM Ravi Prakash said.

    Meanwhile, leader of Opposition in Bihar assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha demanded a CBI inquiry into the police firing in Katihar. “The district administration is trying to give a new twist to the incident at the behest of political masters,” he told the media.

    Earlier, the state government had sought a detailed report from DM and SP on the police firing. The incident has taken a political colour.

    PATNA: Katihar Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar on Friday informed that the death of two persons and injuries to another one during a violent protest against irregular power supply was not caused by police firing. The official claimed that bullet fired by an unidentified person in the mob killed the protestors.  

    The deceased were identified as Khursheed Alam and Sonu Kumar Sah.

    The SP released a video footage of the incident to substantiate his claim. “Today we reached the spot for physical verification of the incident that took place on Wednesday. During investigation, we checked the video footage of the incident. We noticed that a youth came from the direction where the first death took
    place and opened fire. The bullet hit another victim,” he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Kumar said that the gun-toting man can be seen opening fire causing injuries to two bystanders killing Khurdsheed Alam on the spot and Sonu Kumar Sah succumbed to his injuries during treatment in the hospital. The third victim identified as Neyaz Alam is undergoing treatment at a hospital in West Bengal, SP added.

    Efforts were on to ascertain the identity of the man who fired at the victims during the protest against irregular power supply in Barsoi subdivisional area of the district.

    “During verification of the spot where the first victim was hit by bullets we came to know that it was almost for the bullet fired by the police to have hit the deceased as claimed by people,” Kumar revealed.

    #WATCH | Bihar: CCTV visuals of the Katihar firing incident.
    (Video source: IPRD) pic.twitter.com/qO1lhKtKwM
    — ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2023
    Katihar district magistrate Ravi Prakash said that two separate FIRs were registered at Barsoi police station in connection with the incident. While the first FIR has been lodged by the electricity department, second FIR has been registered by the police, DM said, adding that the complaint of one of the deceased
    Sonu Sah’s family has been clubbed with the two FIRs.

    According to reliable sources, a two-member team comprising an additional collector and a DSP has been formed to conduct further investigation. “We will share more information after the investigation,” DM Ravi Prakash said.

    Meanwhile, leader of Opposition in Bihar assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha demanded a CBI inquiry into the police firing in Katihar. “The district administration is trying to give a new twist to the incident at the behest of political masters,” he told the media.

    Earlier, the state government had sought a detailed report from DM and SP on the police firing. The incident has taken a political colour.

  • Former BJP legislator held in Bihar for Ram Navami violence

    By Online Desk

    The Bihar Police on Saturday arrested former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Jawahar Prasad for inciting violence in Sasaram town during Ram Navami rally on March 31, Maktoob Media reports quoting national dailies.

    Prasad, a five-time former MLA, was among the 67 persons arrested in connection with the Hindutva violence.

    A police team reached Prasad’s house and took him to the nearby police station. His supporters reached the police station and started raising slogans against the police, reports Hindustan Times.

    Rohtas Superintendent of Police, Vineet Kumar, said to Indian Express that the BJP leader was apprehended on Saturday following an investigation that revealed his involvement in the violence.

    Planned violence against Muslims were reported in several parts of Bihar during Ram Navami festivities. Besides Sasaram, violence was reported in Rohtas, Biharsharif, Nalanda, Bhagalpur, Gaya and Munger.

    Three BJP local leaders– Shivnath Choudhary, Sonu Sinha and Robin Keshri– had surrendered before the court on Friday after they were accused of anti-Muslim violence.

    Days before, Bajrang Dal convenor of Nalanda district, Kundan Kumar, involved in Hindutva violence in Bihar Sharif town, surrendered before the police after the authorities started property attachment of his house.

    The Bihar Police on Saturday arrested former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Jawahar Prasad for inciting violence in Sasaram town during Ram Navami rally on March 31, Maktoob Media reports quoting national dailies.

    Prasad, a five-time former MLA, was among the 67 persons arrested in connection with the Hindutva violence.

    A police team reached Prasad’s house and took him to the nearby police station. His supporters reached the police station and started raising slogans against the police, reports Hindustan Times.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Rohtas Superintendent of Police, Vineet Kumar, said to Indian Express that the BJP leader was apprehended on Saturday following an investigation that revealed his involvement in the violence.

    Planned violence against Muslims were reported in several parts of Bihar during Ram Navami festivities. Besides Sasaram, violence was reported in Rohtas, Biharsharif, Nalanda, Bhagalpur, Gaya and Munger.

    Three BJP local leaders– Shivnath Choudhary, Sonu Sinha and Robin Keshri– had surrendered before the court on Friday after they were accused of anti-Muslim violence.

    Days before, Bajrang Dal convenor of Nalanda district, Kundan Kumar, involved in Hindutva violence in Bihar Sharif town, surrendered before the police after the authorities started property attachment of his house.

  • Notorious gangster Prince Singh killed in encounter in Bihar’s Sitamarhi

    By IANS

    PATNA: A notorious gangster, Prince Singh, was killed in an encounter in Bihar’s Sitamarhi, police said on Monday.

    The action comes after a series of kidnapping, extortion and murder cases have been reported from various parts of the state.

    A team of Sitamarhi police shot at the gangster in a retaliatory firing at around 3.30 a.m.

    The accused was involved in liquor smuggling also.

    Pankaj Sinha, the Inspector General of Police Tirhut range, confirmed the incident.

    “A team of Sitamarhi police went for the raid in Budhnagra village under Bokhra outpost on Sunday night. They conducted the raid for the entire night and eventually had a face-off with Prince Singh and his gang at around 3.30 a.m. Our team warned them to surrender, but they opened fire in a bid to escape from the spot. The police team also retaliated,” Sinha said.

    “In the retaliatory firing, Prince Singh sustained gunshot injuries. The police personnel took him to Sadar hospital where doctors declared him dead,” Sinha said.

    Prince Singh was wanted in liquor smuggling cases in Muzaffarpur. Two FIRs were registered in the Katra police station of the district. Besides, he was also involved in six other criminal cases as well.

    Sitamarhi Superintendent of Police (SP) Har Kishore Rai said that three aides of Prince Singh were also arrested. The police team also recovered one pistol from their possession.

    PATNA: A notorious gangster, Prince Singh, was killed in an encounter in Bihar’s Sitamarhi, police said on Monday.

    The action comes after a series of kidnapping, extortion and murder cases have been reported from various parts of the state.

    A team of Sitamarhi police shot at the gangster in a retaliatory firing at around 3.30 a.m.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The accused was involved in liquor smuggling also.

    Pankaj Sinha, the Inspector General of Police Tirhut range, confirmed the incident.

    “A team of Sitamarhi police went for the raid in Budhnagra village under Bokhra outpost on Sunday night. They conducted the raid for the entire night and eventually had a face-off with Prince Singh and his gang at around 3.30 a.m. Our team warned them to surrender, but they opened fire in a bid to escape from the spot. The police team also retaliated,” Sinha said.

    “In the retaliatory firing, Prince Singh sustained gunshot injuries. The police personnel took him to Sadar hospital where doctors declared him dead,” Sinha said.

    Prince Singh was wanted in liquor smuggling cases in Muzaffarpur. Two FIRs were registered in the Katra police station of the district. Besides, he was also involved in six other criminal cases as well.

    Sitamarhi Superintendent of Police (SP) Har Kishore Rai said that three aides of Prince Singh were also arrested. The police team also recovered one pistol from their possession.

  • Patna SSP draws parallels between Islamic extremist body and RSS; BJP roiled

    By PTI

    PATNA: The BJP flew off the handle on Thursday after a senior IPS officer in Bihar sought to draw a parallel between its parent body RSS and an Islamic extremist organisation, a network of which was recently busted in the city.

    Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manavendra Singh Dhillon courted trouble for having said that PFI members arrested from Phulwari Sharif here underwent “physical training similar to what happens in RSS shakhas’ (branches)”.

    BJP leaders, including high-ranking ones like former Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and ex-deputy CM of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi, expressed outrage, while others questioned the police officer’s soundness of mind and demanded his sacking.

    “I condemn the irresponsible and despicable utterance of the SSP of Patna, my parliamentary constituency, who has sought to compare the PFI, a known terrorist organisation, to a nationalist organisation like the RSS,” fumed Prasad, who represents Patna Sahib in Lok Sabha.

    “I have learnt that senior officials have taken note of the reprehensible conduct of the officer. I hope proper action will be taken,” added Prasad.

    When approached by journalists, Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters), J S Gangwar said the SSP could have spoken out of context “Comparing one organisation with another is wrong. We will speak to him on the issue and advise him to concentrate on investigating the case,” he said.

    According to Dhillon, a raid was conducted in Phulwari Sharif following a tip-off about “Islamic radicalisation” inside a premise owned by a retired police official of Jharkhand, where many people, some of them from far-off Kerala and Tamil Nadu, were undergoing “normal physical training, not armed training”.

    Altogether 26 people have been named in the FIR out of whom three, including the owner of the house, have been arrested since Wednesday night, said the SSP, adding, recoveries from the spot include propaganda material that spoke of “turning India into an Islamic state”.

    He ruled out any Pakistan links of the network, but said the “terror funding” angle was being probed and though the police had recently intensified its surveillance in view of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 12, there were “no indications” that the group was aiming at disrupting the VIP event.

    However, his offhand use of a simile triggered predictable outrage.

    Sushil Kumar Modi came out with a couple of tweets asking how could the police officer be loose tongued about RSS, which has had among its members top leaders like PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

    Sushil Modi also demanded “a withdrawal of the statement and an apology” from the SSP, though stormy petrels wanted him to be booted out.

    “He has evidently lost his mental balance. He must be removed from his current assignment, which requires sensitivity and a sense of responsibility,” said Haribhushan Thakur Bachol, a BJP MLA.

    He also alleged that PM Modi “has been targeted by Islamic terrorists whenever he has visited Bihar, starting from the 2013 serial blasts”.

    The prime minister, the then Gujarat CM, had addressed his maiden rally in Bihar at the Gandhi Maidan here in October 2013, while several bombs went off at the venue.

    State BJP spokesman and OBC Morcha’s national general secretary Nikhil Anand alleged “it is not a slip of tongue by the Patna SSP, but a statement given in confidence and in a cool manner” to show his political affinity and keep masters in good humour.

    “He must apologise and if he wants to indulge in politics, he must resign,” Anand said, urging the state DGP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take note of the indiscretion and initiate “disciplinary action” against the officer.

    PATNA: The BJP flew off the handle on Thursday after a senior IPS officer in Bihar sought to draw a parallel between its parent body RSS and an Islamic extremist organisation, a network of which was recently busted in the city.

    Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manavendra Singh Dhillon courted trouble for having said that PFI members arrested from Phulwari Sharif here underwent “physical training similar to what happens in RSS shakhas’ (branches)”.

    BJP leaders, including high-ranking ones like former Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and ex-deputy CM of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi, expressed outrage, while others questioned the police officer’s soundness of mind and demanded his sacking.

    “I condemn the irresponsible and despicable utterance of the SSP of Patna, my parliamentary constituency, who has sought to compare the PFI, a known terrorist organisation, to a nationalist organisation like the RSS,” fumed Prasad, who represents Patna Sahib in Lok Sabha.

    “I have learnt that senior officials have taken note of the reprehensible conduct of the officer. I hope proper action will be taken,” added Prasad.

    When approached by journalists, Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters), J S Gangwar said the SSP could have spoken out of context “Comparing one organisation with another is wrong. We will speak to him on the issue and advise him to concentrate on investigating the case,” he said.

    According to Dhillon, a raid was conducted in Phulwari Sharif following a tip-off about “Islamic radicalisation” inside a premise owned by a retired police official of Jharkhand, where many people, some of them from far-off Kerala and Tamil Nadu, were undergoing “normal physical training, not armed training”.

    Altogether 26 people have been named in the FIR out of whom three, including the owner of the house, have been arrested since Wednesday night, said the SSP, adding, recoveries from the spot include propaganda material that spoke of “turning India into an Islamic state”.

    He ruled out any Pakistan links of the network, but said the “terror funding” angle was being probed and though the police had recently intensified its surveillance in view of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 12, there were “no indications” that the group was aiming at disrupting the VIP event.

    However, his offhand use of a simile triggered predictable outrage.

    Sushil Kumar Modi came out with a couple of tweets asking how could the police officer be loose tongued about RSS, which has had among its members top leaders like PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

    Sushil Modi also demanded “a withdrawal of the statement and an apology” from the SSP, though stormy petrels wanted him to be booted out.

    “He has evidently lost his mental balance. He must be removed from his current assignment, which requires sensitivity and a sense of responsibility,” said Haribhushan Thakur Bachol, a BJP MLA.

    He also alleged that PM Modi “has been targeted by Islamic terrorists whenever he has visited Bihar, starting from the 2013 serial blasts”.

    The prime minister, the then Gujarat CM, had addressed his maiden rally in Bihar at the Gandhi Maidan here in October 2013, while several bombs went off at the venue.

    State BJP spokesman and OBC Morcha’s national general secretary Nikhil Anand alleged “it is not a slip of tongue by the Patna SSP, but a statement given in confidence and in a cool manner” to show his political affinity and keep masters in good humour.

    “He must apologise and if he wants to indulge in politics, he must resign,” Anand said, urging the state DGP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take note of the indiscretion and initiate “disciplinary action” against the officer.

  • Cop in dry Bihar arrested upon being found drunk on duty

    By PTI

    MUZAFFARPUR: A police officer was arrested on Wednesday in the north Bihar district of Muzaffarpur after it was found that he had consumed liquor in flagrant violation of the stringent prohibition law in the state.

    According to Muzaffarpur senior superintendent of police Jayantkant, the additional sub-inspector of Minapur police station Ramchandra Pandit was arrested Tuesday night.

    “Trainee IPS officer Sharat R S is officiating as the in-charge of the police station. He had a suspicion that Pandit had reported for duty in a drunken state. A breath analyser test conducted on the ASI confirmed the same”, said the SSP.

    The ASI broke down pleading that he be spared as although he was fond of drinking, he has never been in an inebriated state while on duty.

    “He said he had less than a decade of service left and that he was forced to drink at a wedding party he attended before coming to duty. Nonetheless, he has violated the law of the land and has been sent to jail. He will also be placed under suspension and face departmental action,” the SSP said.

    Sale and consumption of alcohol was completely banned in the state by the Nitish Kumar government in April, 2016.

  • Bihar cop suspended after video of him getting massage by woman goes viral

    By PTI

    SAHARSA: A policeman in Bihar was suspended on Friday after a video of him getting massage from a woman, who had approached him in connection with a case, went viral on the Internet.

    Saharsa Superintendent of Police Lipi Singh ordered the suspension of Shashibhushan Sinha, who was in charge of Darhatta outpost in the north Bihar district.

    “The conduct of the police official is tantamount to indiscipline and wanton behavior (uddandta). We have taken suo motu cognizance and he has been placed under suspension pending inquiry,” the district police chief told reporters.

    In the embarrassing video clip, about half a minute long, the bare-chested official can be seen with two women, one of them sitting next to him and the other massaging his neck, shoulders and back.

    According to police sources, the women were related to an accused in the rape case of a nine-year-old girl.

    They had allegedly sought the policeman’s help to secure bail for their jailed relative.

    In the video, the official can be seen talking languidly over his mobile phone, apparently to a lawyer.

    He can be heard saying “I am sending to you two women with some money, Aadhar card and copies of documents. They are very poor. Please help them. I have ended up spending Rs 10,000 from my own pocket in their case”.

  • Bihar DGP inspects police station in Patna, suspends SHO for not maintaining diary

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Facing criticism from opposition parties, Bihar director general of police (DGP) Sanjeev Kumar Singhal on Friday inspected Gandhi Maidan police station in Patna and ordered the suspension of station house officer (SHO) Ranjeet Vats on the charges of not maintaining the police station’s diary.

    The action followed the recommendation of inspector general of police, central range, Rakesh Kumar Rathi, who was present at the police station during inspection by the state police chief. Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manavjeet Singh Dhillon was also there.

    According to police manual, diary at the police station has to be updated an hourly basis by the SHO concerned. 

    However, during inspection by the DGP, the station diary was not found up-to-date, a laxity on the part of the SHO, thus inviting disciplinary action against him.

    This is for the first time that Singhal, a 1988 batch IPS officer, moved out of the police headquarters to inspect any police station in the state ever since he assumed charge as DGP of Bihar on December 20, 2020. He had superseded Gupteshwar Pandey, who took voluntary retirement three months before to join politics.

    Though Singhal was schedule to retire on August 31, 2021, his service was extended for two years from the appointment as DGP. His tenure will come to an end on December 19, 2022.

    On Friday, leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav flayed the state government for its failure to contain crime. Murder, loot, rape, extortion and kidnapping have become a routine affair in the state, he alleged and sought chief minister’s intervention.

    The murder of a Janata Dal United (JDU) functionary in Danapur near Patna sparked off violent protest by his relatives and local residents. A spate of murders in the state capital, including members of business community, has unnerved the top brass of the state police.

    Earlier, the state police headquarters had issued directives to all range IGs and DIGs to conduct inspections of the police stations under their jurisdiction.

    However, incidents of crime continued unabated in the state.

  • Young RTI activist found murdered in Bihar, sparks public outcry

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The recovery of the dead body of an RTI-activist -turn-digital journalist by police on Friday under mysterious circumstances in Bihar’s Madhubani district has sparked a major uproar in the public.

    Buddhinath Jha alias Avinash Jha (25) went missing on Tuesday evening at Bennipatti and his body was found dumped at an isolated place with burnt marks.Multiple sources said that Jha was exposing misdeeds of local people, contractors and others through his Youtube channel after unearthing their secrets through the RTI.

    Recently, he had exposed many illegal medical clinics being run in the district his findings had led to the closure of many such clinics. Sources said that Jha never compromised with the local wrong-doers even after he was intimidated or offered gratifications.

    Jha was last seen venturing out from his home on Tuesday evening in CCTV footage near his house in Benipatti. He was last seen going out — leaving his motorcycle at home. He left his office and laptop opened while venturing out from the room and was seen walking while speaking on a cellphone.

    When he didn’t return, Jha’s family alerted the local police station and lodged a complaint. According to a source, Jha’s cellphone was traced switched off about 6km away from his home the next day. The police continued working but till the time of reporting on Sunday, no breakthrough was made in what appeared to be a meticulously planed murder of the RTI activist.

    Buddhinath Jha was popular in the locality because of missionary zeal in exposing the wrong deeds and irregularities in the govt schemes also.

  • Priest shot dead after dispute in Bihar, locals lynch one of assailants 

    By PTI

    DARBHANGA (Bihar): A 45-year-old priest was shot dead over a dispute regarding a mobile phone in Bihar’s Darbhanga district on Thursday, following which one of the alleged assailants was lynched by locals and two others were arrested by the police.

    The incident took place early in the morning when four armed men barged into Kankali temple in the University police station area and shot dead priest Rajeev Kumar Jha and injured a devotee, Station House Officer Satya Prakash Jha said.

    The injured devotee, identified as Shambhu Choudhary, has been hospitalised and his condition is stated to be stable, he said.

    After the incident, locals chased the alleged assailants and nabbed three of them, while one managed to escape.

    The trio was brutally thrashed by the locals, as a result of which, one of them — identified as Pulkit Singh — died, while the other two were arrested by the police, the officer said.

    “Preliminary investigation suggests that the deceased assailant had some dispute over a mobile phone with the priest’s son,” he said, adding further investigation is underway.

    Locals, however, claimed that the slain priest had lodged a police complaint against the lynched man a few days ago but no further action was taken against him.

    Police, though, remained tight-lipped over the charge.