Motihari, May 22: The trend of “spot judgement” is fast catching on in Champaran nowadays. In most cases, civilians are preferring to punish criminals instantaneously instead of apprising police and awaiting justice.

Three recent incidents of mob lynching, where residents preferred to eliminate the wrong-doers by taking law in their own hands, indicate that the government’s claim of susashan in Bihar is yet to restore the confidence of the masses regarding judicious conduct and sincerity of the police at the lower level as well as their practical style of functioning.

Raju Sahni, who was lynched by a violent mob for demanding extortion in Siswa Patna village under Kesariya police station of the district late on Friday night, was the fourth victim in the third incident of lynching in the district in the past month. A resident of Siswa Kharar village under Kalyanpur police station, Raju was caught hold by the villagers when he demanded extortion money from Purushottam Singh in Siswa Patna village, said the police, adding that the victim mostly used to work for ganglord Babloo Dubey, who is in jail.

Confirming the incident, Kesariya station house officer M.M. Manjhi said firearm and live cartridges were recovered from his possession.

On April 27, an angry mob lynched two criminals — Pankaj Singh and Raju Singh — hailing from Siswa Patna village and patronised by the Mohan Singh-Laxmi Singh gang, at Puraina village under Dumariyaghat police station area. They had gone to kill a doctor. Two magazines, 20 cartridges and a carbine were recovered from their possession.