Motihari, March 8: Nari Mukti Vahini, the women’s wing of CPI (Maoist), openly issued a threat to torch police stations during a meeting on women’s awareness on International Women’s Day on the grounds of Bakhari High School under Patahi police station.

The threat has posed a question before the administration as to how the organisation was granted permission to hold such a public meeting when the first phase panchayat election has already been notified in Patahi block and the model code of conduct is in force.

Asked how a wing of a banned organisation was granted permission to hold a public meeting, Pakridayal sub-divisional magistrate Sanjay Kumar Verma told The Telegraph: “The decision to grant permission was wrong. It seems that Patahi returning officer Radhe Shyam Ji neither consulted the local police nor check the list of banned organisations before granting permission.” He, however, said a detailed inquiry would be ordered into the matter. In 2006, the local administration had declined to grant permission for a similar meeting at the same venue.

East Champaran superintendent of police Ganesh Kumar told The Telegraph: “If the organizers were related to any organisation banned by the government, it would be of prime concern to the local administration before it grants them permission to holding a public meeting in their jurisdiction.” Patahi is considered a stronghold of Naxalite activities in north Bihar.

Sources said whenever there was any slackness in the spread of Naxalite activities in the region, the Maoists seek assistance from its women’s brigade before any major Red strike in the area.

A massive conference of Nari Mukti Vahini was held at Pakridayal in this district before Operation Dhamaka at Madhuban on June 23, 2005.

The organisers of today’s meeting hoisted two flags and raised slogans before holding a big rally that passed through nearby villages.