Prohibitory orders have been clamped at Forbesganj in Araria following an attack on a peace march on Saturday, injuring six persons, including Forbesganj MLA Padam Parag Renu.
Additional forces have been deployed and prohibitory orders have been promulgated under Section 144 of the CrPC, banning the assembly of five or more persons at a place. The security personnel, including the Rapid Action Force, staged flag march to restore confidence among the residents.
Senior police and civil administrative officials, including inspector-general (Darbhanga zone) J.S. Gangwar, Purnea divisional commissioner Pankaj Kumar and deputy inspector-general (DIG) Paras Nath were camping in the town. Additional forces have been rushed from Purnea and Katihar districts to help the Muzaffarpur administration in restoring normality.
The trouble erupted after a peace march taken out by some leaders and the district administration was attacked near Subhash Chowk on the railway station road on Saturday. Three policemen and the BJP MLA from Forbesganj were among the six persons injured in stone-pelting by the mob.
The protesters also burnt tyres and blocked roads at few places in the town.
The MLA, Renu, and the cops suffered injuries when they had gone to the spot to persuade the protesters. One of the three seriously injured policemen has been admitted to the Purnea sadar hospital for treatment. The other two cops are being treated at the Forbesganj hospital.
The protesters took to the streets in protest against vandalism by a group of people on Friday. Some shops open on Friday were ransacked by the unruly mob, an investigating officer said.
DIG Nath described the situation in the trouble-torn town bordering Nepal as normal on Sunday.
“No untoward incident has been reported from any part of the town. Patrolling has been intensified in the areas considered to be vulnerable from the security point of view,” he told The Telegraph on phone from Forbesganj.
Additional director-general (law and order) S.K. Bhardwaj said the police headquarters was keeping a close watch on the situation in Forbesganj and getting updates from the officers camping at the site.
“All measures are being taken to restore normality in the town,” the senior officer added.
