Patna, Feb. 1: Around 65,000 constables owing allegiance to Bihar Policemen’s Association are up in arms against the arrest of the two constables deputed as bodyguards of the controversial RJD MLA from Belganj, Surendra Prasad Yadav, in connection with the firing at the Anugraha Narayan Medical College and Hospital at Gaya on Sunday night.

The association threatened to launch a statewide agitation if the two constables, Ashok Kumar and Abhinandan Kumar, were not released and their suspension was not revoked. “The constables did what they were supposed to do,” the state president of the association, Jitendra Narain Singh, said.

He said around 65,000 constables would go on strike in protest against the alleged arbitrary attitude of the Gaya police officials if they did not mend their way of functioning. Singh said: “The constables’ prime duty was to ensure security to the legislator. He expressed surprise over the failure of the Gaya police officials to arrest the medicos, who set on fire a police vehicle and ransacked the shops in the vicinity of the hospital.”

Singh said they would not sit idle if senior police officers did not pay heed to their demands. “It is unjustified to take action against the constables as they were deputed to protect the public representative, who was surrounded by a mob,” he said, seeking intervention of senior officers.