Agriculture minister Narendra Singh consoles Munna Singh’s father outside Patna Medical College and Hospital on Tuesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna/Jamui, July 2: The state today took stern action against three police officers following the custodial death of an accused abductor at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) last night.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar shifted Jamui superintendent of police (SP) Deepak Barnawal and ordered the arrest of the station house officers of the Town and Giddhaur police stations. Victim Munna Singh (40) was taken on police remand for interrogation in connection with the abduction of Jamui businessman Baikunth Barnawal.

Though the government today hurriedly announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the victim’s family, the news sparked arson and stone pelting in Jamui. Residents of Singh’s native village, Lakhpura, around 15km from Jamui town and 200km east of Patna, hit the streets and forced shops to down shutters.

The police had a tough time dealing with protesters demanding the arrest of the accused officers. They blocked traffic on Jamui-Lakhisarai road, which was continuing till reports last came in. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC were also clamped in the town.

Additional director-general (law and order) S.K. Bhardwaj said Munna’s body was handed over to his family.

The custodial death comes at a time when the state government is already under fire by the Opposition parties over the police firing in Bagaha, which claimed six lives and left over 12 persons injured. The government has ordered a judicial probe into the firing.

Nitish hurriedly summoned senior officers, including chief secretary A.K. Sinha, director-general of police Abhayanand and principal secretary, home, Amir Subhani to his residence this morning and took stock of the situation in Jamui. Post-meeting, he ordered the removal of Barnawal, a 2010-batch IPS officer, from Jamui with immediate effect for inept handling of the abduction case. Jitendra Singh Rana, a 2005-batch IPS officer, posted as commandant of the Bihar Military Police 5th battalion in Patna, was asked to assume charge as the new SP of Jamui.

The station house officer of Jamui Town police station, Jitendra Kumar, and his Giddhaur counterpart, Satyavrat Bharti, who were earlier suspended, would have to face murder charges. Subhani said murder charges have already been pressed against the duo and instructions have been issued to arrest them. The bodyguard of outgoing Jamui SP Barnawal was arrested for allegedly beating up Munna during interrogation.

Sources said Munna, a native of Lakhpura village, surrendered in the court of Jyoti Srivastava after police started searching for him in connection with Baikunth Barnawal’s abduction from Jamui on May 5. The abductors allegedly demanded Rs 30 lakh as ransom for his safe release. Munna was suspected to have masterminded the operation.

On June 20, Munna was taken on police remand for interrogation. He was produced before the court on June 22, where he complained of torture in police custody.

Thereafter, a high-level team comprising chief judicial magistrate (Jamui) D.L. Prasad and deputy inspector-general of police (Munger range) Sundhanshu Kumar visited the jail to probe into Munna’s allegations. Munna was later shifted to PMCH for better treatment. The jail inmates launched an agitation to protest the ill-treatment meted out to Munna during interrogation.

Munna’s family members alleged that the cops poured petrol and chilli power in his private organs to force him into revealing the whereabouts of the abducted trader.