Purnea, Oct. 16: Twenty-nine people have been arrested and three FIRs lodged in connection with yesterday’s mob violence and the ensuing cop firing at the Dagarua police station in the district.
Though five of the arrested were released after verification, the remaining 24 were sent to Purnea Central Jail. A group of Chandrabhati villagers had hurled stones and tried to set ablaze the police station in protest against the death of Mohammed Nasim, 40, under mysterious circumstances.
In the first FIR, the deceased’s uncle, Hazi Abdul Rauf, alleged that Nasim was killed and thrown into a pond by the police. He registered a case against officials of the Dagarua police station.
The second complaint was lodged by the station house officer of Dagarua police station, Mitesh Kumar, against 322 persons for vandalising the police station. Mitesh was among the policemen who were injured in the mob violence. In the third FIR, Dagarua block development officer Rajesh Kumar Singh registered a case against those who had staged a road blockade, took Nasim’s body out of the ambulance and set police vehicles ablaze.
Inspector-general (IG) of Darbhanga range R.K. Mishra told The Telegraph: “We have video footages of the entire episode. Twenty-nine people were arrested in connection with the incident and three FIRs have been lodged. Five persons have been released after interrogations. We will take stern action against those found guilty of setting Dagarua police station on fire and vandalising the property.”
He added: “The post-mortem report confirms that Mohammad Nasim died of drowning. It does not appear that the police are involved in a case of murder. However, it will be probed according to the FIR.” The IG said people should not believe in rumours and verify an incident before going on the rampage like they did yesterday. “I have instructed the senior police officers to take action against the guilty. The innocent should not be victimised at any cost.”
Sources said the Darbhanga range IG conducted a meeting with senior officers and public representatives, including MLA of Baisi Santosh Kushwaha, JD(U) leader Mohammad Asfar and former Union minister Mohammad Taslimuddin. Kushwaha and Asfar gave Rs 10,000 each to the family of the deceased.