Nitish convoy attack: Seven cops suspended for dereliction of duty

Patna: Three days after the violence that marred Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's visit to Khagaria in Bihar, the police have suspended seven sub-inspectors for dereliction of duty.

Although the Bihar Police claims that the suspension orders have nothing to do with the massive protests and arson that broke out in Khagaria on Thursday, the move follows the initial report that confirmed that the seven officers were prime facie found missing in action during the incident. Hundreds of protesters, comprising contractual teachers, had perpetrated large-scale violence and even pelted stones on the Chief Minister's convoy who was in the town as part of his 'Adhikar Yatra' to mobilise support for his demand for special status to the state. The police were caught completely off-guard as the violence soon spun out of control. The agitators stoned vehicles of dozens of officials, including the Director General of Police (DGP) Abhayanand, and also torched several vehicles as well as the record room and other properties at the district collectorate in Khagaria.

The Bihar government has already constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the violence. The police have arrested 42 people so far in connection with the incident. They have also lodged First Information Reports (FIRs) against 673 protesters, including 600 unidentified ones for their alleged involvement in the violence.

No action, though, has been initiated so far against the husband of an MLA from Mr Kumar's party, the JD(U), who was caught on camera brandishing a gun to threaten the protestors who were shouting slogans against the Chief Minister during his public meeting in Khagaria. Ranvir Yadav, who also happens to be a former legislator with a number of criminal cases against him, and his supporters were also earlier seen beating up the protesters to the clear way for Mr Kumar to proceed towards the venue of the meeting.

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The violence in Khagaria is in a series of protests that the Chief Minister has met with during his road trip in the state. Protesting contractual teachers have hurled slippers at Mr Kumar during several public meetings in the last two weeks at Madhepura, Betiah and Darbhanga.

The Chief Minister has condemned the recent wave of protests and has blamed the Opposition for inciting violence during his 'Adhikar Yatra'.

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"I pity them (political adversaries) as they have no worthwhile thing to do," Mr Kumar said on Saturday, referring to arch-rival Lalu Prasad and his party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). (Read)

(With PTI inputs)