Abdul Bari Siddiqui in Patna on Friday

Patna, Sept. 16: The state police headquarters seems to have set an example by shifting all policemen posted at Noorsarai police station in Nalanda district today after police excesses on women and children, who were protesting against the alleged kidnap and murder of a woman hailing from Chandasi village.

Sources said 30 police personnel, including six sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, 14 constables and 10 homeguard jawans, have been asked to report to the police lines with immediate effect. A deputy superintendent of police, who was earlier asked to supervise the case, has been divested of his power.

The action followed the visit of additional director-general (ADG) of police (headquarters) Rajvardhan Sharma, along with the inspector-general (Patna zone), Bhrigu Srinivasan, to Nalanda today. Sharma was asked by chief minister Nitish Kumar to make on-the-spot inspection of the incident and take action against erring cops.

The ADG met the victims undergoing treatment in a Biharsharif hospital and also held talks with the superintendent of police, deputy superintendent of police and other police officials. The victims narrated the story of police brutality before the ADG, who subsequently ordered an overhaul of the entire police set up at Noorsarai police station.

“Except two-three police officials, all the policemen posted at Noorsarai police station have been shifted. The investigating officer of the case has also been changed and another officer has been assigned to investigate the case,” the ADG said, adding that two policemen were earlier put under suspension.

“There is prima facie evidence of police excesses. The police personnel found to be guilty will not be spared,” Sharma said. The ADG is likely to submit his report to the chief minister tomorrow. Sources said Mundrika Prasad, inspector of Biharsharif, has been appointed the new investigating officer of the case.

Opposition salvo

Reacting strongly to the Noorsarai incident, the RJD today demanded a CBI probe against the police officers involved in the case.

In an address in his chamber, Leader of Opposition Abdul Bari Siddiqui said: “Nitish Kumar government has failed to check the madness of the cops. Police brutality against women has increased. The recent incident in Nalanda, which is the hometown of the chief minister, has crossed all level of atrocities against women in the state. CBI should probe the incident and bring the guilty police officials to book.”