Heavy deployment of police forces for Prakash Utsav has exposed the rest of the city to law and order problems.

With around 17,000 police personnel, including 10,000 police personnel from Patna police, deployed for Prakash Utsav security, many police stations have stopped night patrolling.

"As many police personnel from our police station have been assigned Prakash Utsav security duty, night patrolling has been hit," said a police officer at Rajeev Nagar police station on condition of anonymity. "Even quick mobile team are busy in Prakash Utsav security."

The officer's caution cannot be ignored on a day three bike-borne men fired at a lawyer, Sunil Singh, at Keshri Nagar under Shastri Nagar police station area in broad daylight. Sunil, who sustained chest and stomach injures, was admitted to Paras HMRI, where his condition is stable. Sunil named two of his assailants, Pawan and Neelmani, but Shastri Nagar police have not made any arrests yet. Shastri Nagar police station house officer (SHO) Virendra Yadav said: "The police are conducting raids at different places to nab three assailants, but no progress has been made."

In another incident at Naya Tola in Phulwarisharif police station area, two groups clashed on Tuesday night. It all began when some people ran after Monu, a gang member, firing gunshots at him on Tuesday night. Six shots were fired and Monu sustained leg injuries, leaving Naya Tola residents fear-stricken. Monu was rescued only after residents caught hold of one of the assailants, Raja, and beat him up. Raja was rescued on the intervention of police.

Police sources said the firing incident was outcome of a rivalry between two groups operating in Phulwari area. The two groups have a criminal past but Phulwari police have failed to nab gang members. "The police have raided various places but failed to catch any of the gang members," Phulwarisharif police SHO Mustafa Kamal said.

Senior police officers, however, denied that policing has suffered because of the focus on Prakash Ustav. "Deployment of additional police forces from police stations has not affected policing in the city," additional superintendent of police (law and order) Rakesh Dubey said. He claimed night patrolling was going on like before.