Three dead in theatre stampede
Banka (PTI): Three persons died and 12 others were seriously injured in a stampede on Tuesday night when thousands of people tried to enter a theatre to watch cultural functions on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
A senior police officer said several people had tried to enter the venue in the district’s Bhonsi police station area at the same time, triggering the stampede. Banka superintendent of police Pushkar Anand said one of the deceased has been identified as Anil Kumar Mandal, a resident of Samukhiya village. The other two unidentified victims died on their way to hospital in Bhagalpur, Anand added.
The theatre presenting the programme during Mandar Mela, an annual feature in the area during Makar Sankranti, has been closed. An FIR has been lodged against the owner.
Anand said two assistant sub-inspectors and 10 constables of Bhonsi police station have also been suspended in the wake of the stampede.
Judicial custody
Patna: Special vigilance courts on Wednesday forwarded 52 middlemen (arrested on January 13) at different district transport offices in the state to judicial custody.
Cop action
Patna: Judicial magistrate Ravi Ranjan on Wednesday directed Patna senior superintendent of police to stop the salary of the Jakkanpur station house officer till further orders. The officer did not follow the court’s orders on execution of warrants, attachment of properties of absconders among others.
Assault bail
Patna: Chief judicial magistrate Rama Kant Yadav on Wednesday granted Amit Mishra, the son of a judicial officer posted at the Patna civil court, regular bail in an assault case. Mishra’s father had lodged FIR against him.
Office shift
Patna: The office of the Bihar public works contracts disputes tribunal has been shifted from the old secretariat building to the B-Block of Maurya Lok. It would start functioning from January 20.
Dental unit
Patna: A modern dental unit started functioning at Mahavir Arogya Sansthan from Wednesday. Bihar State Board of Religious Trust chairman Kishore Kunal inaugurated the new facility.
Attack
Bettiah: Thirty-year-old Mohammed Kamran, alias Jamiul Rahman, a resident of Bhelwa village in West Champaran district, was shot dead around 9.30pm on Tuesday.
Elderly feast
Patna: HelpAge India organised a feast for senior citizens on the occasion of Makar Sankranti at Pramanandpur in Supaul district.
Poll wish
Patna: Feraque Ahmad, a retired IAS officer and former Kishanganj district magistrate, will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Kishanganj on the Aam Aadmi Party ticket.
Bronze medals
Patna: Anjali, Kritika, Rekha and Sweety Raj of Bihar won bronze medals in the girls’ category of the 15th Sub-Junior and 10th Cadet National Fencing Championship held in Cuttack, Odisha, from January 9 to 13.
Training event
Patna: Super 30 founder Anand Kumar on Wednesday distributed certificates among participants of a training programme organised by the rural self-employment training institute of Punjab National Bank.