6 arrested for Bihar school lynching

The Nalanda police on Tuesday arrested six persons on charge of lynching Devendra Prasad, director of Devendra Public School, who was beaten to death by villagers on June 28.

The Nalanda police on Tuesday arrested six persons on charge of lynching Devendra Prasad, director of Devendra Public School, who was beaten to death by villagers on June 28. Villagers had lynched him for allegedly killing his two school students and throwing their bodies into pond at Nirpur village, bodies were later recovered on the same day.

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Confirming the arrest, Nalanda SP, SM Jain said the six persons were arrested from various localities in Nalanda district. "Three men were arrested on the basis of the media video footage which showed beating Prasad with lathis. While three others were arrested in the course of police investigation," he added.

He said that all the accused were sent to jail in this connection. "Raids are on to trace others involved in the incident," he stated.

Police said that police identified arrested persons as Dharmveer Kumar of Chandrapura, Santosh Kumar of Pachwara, Ajay Kumar, Santosh Ram and Mahendra Chourisia of Nirupr. "Dharmveer Kumar is maternal uncle of the deceased student Sagar Kumar. Dharmveer's picture is clear showing beating Prasad with lathis," he added.

Meanwhile, family and supporters of the school director had blocked Hilsa-Patna railway track and the roads on June 29 against the lynching of the school director. Protester had damaged windowpanes of several vehicles, including Nalanda SP, DM, and Nalanda police station. Later, SHO of Nalanda police station, Sanjay Kumar was suspended on charge of dereliction of duty.

The situation went out of control after protestors had pelted policemen with stones. The situation was brought under control after police resorted to lathicharge to disperse mob who blocked Hilsa-Patna railway track and the roads.

The incident sparked off on Sunday after recovery the bodies of two local students of the same school at Nirpur village. The deceased were identified as (11) Ravi Kumar, son of Mohan Prasad, a resident of Pachwara and (10) Sagar Kumar, son of Shayam Kishore Prasad of Lahua village in Nalanda district.

Locals alleged that the school principal had thrashed both the students and threw their bodies. As the body recovered, irate villagers attacked the school and torched two rooms with LPG cylinders, besides a couple of vehicles. Mob caught Prasad and mercilessly beat up with lathis, while some of them kicked him as he lay on the ground with his face down.