Bhagalpur: Senior administration officials spent a sleepless Friday night on the roads in Nathnagar after a minor problem created by a drunkard triggered a group clash, making a mockery of the government's tall claims about prohibition and its benefits.
Intervention of senior officials ensured the situation did not go out of hand like it had at Nathnagar on March 17.
According to Bhagalpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ashish Bharati, the trouble began when some residents asked 2-3 autorickshaw drivers not to consume alcohol publicly, at a tea stall, at Nathnagar market. But the autorickshaw drivers and some others who were drinking with them beat up two residents, leaving them with head injuries. It turned into a free-for-all around 9.20pm.
Two groups engaged in brickbatting in the main Nathnagar market area. Criminals also ransacked some shops but the police stopped them from setting fire to public property. Two police constables sustained injuries in the violence.
The residents who had been attacked alleged they also warned the drivers for eve-teasing some young girls in the late evening.
Bhagalpur police zone in-charge inspector-general of police Pradep Kumar Srivastava, district magistrate Pranav Kumar and all senior officials rushed to the spot and managed to defuse the crisis with the help of local peace committee members. Higher officers asked Nathnagar police station police officials concerned how liquor was available in the areas.
"We conducted a meeting with residents till late last (Friday) night," SSP Bharati said. "The situation is fully under control now but we have deployed forces in the area. Some trouble spots have been identified and soon permanent police posts would be allotted at such places."
Earlier, on March 17, there was tension in the area after Arjit Shashwat, son of Union health minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey, had taken out a procession a day before Vikram Samvat (new year day in the Hindu calendar).
He allegedly raised objectionable slogans and songs, which some people protested against by pelting stones.
Later the incident converted into battle among the people from two groups. He and nine others were arrested and forwarded to jail for instigating trouble. Arjit and the others later got bail from a local court here.
"The incident of March 17 was an eye-opener, but unfortunately Nathnagar police failed to control the criminal elements here," alleged Santosh Kumar, a resident of Nathnagar. "Liquor continues to be easily available in the area and eve-teasing is another problem. But the police hardly bother to take any action."
There is heavy deployment of police in Nathnagar market.
