Madhubani mayhem: Police lodge 33 FIRs
The Madhubani police on Wednesday registered as many as 33 FIRs with nine police stations against 150 named persons and thousands of unnamed ones in connection with the unprecedented violence and arson, which claimed two lives and caused extensive damage to the collectorate, SDO and block offices besides several police stations. Avinash Kumar reports.
The Madhubani police on Wednesday registered as many as 33 FIRs with nine police stations against 150 named persons and thousands of unnamed ones in connection with the unprecedented violence and arson, which claimed two lives and caused extensive damage to the collectorate, SDO and block offices besides several police stations.
A maximum of 13 FIRs were lodged with Madhubani police station while other FIRs were registered at Basopatti, Khajauli, Jainagar, Rajnagar and Kaluahi police stations for arson, violence and damaging government and public property. The police arrested 12 persons, including one Md Kadrus of Basopatti, in connection with violence.
The entire Madhubani town and adjoining areas, including Jainagar and Basopatti among others, had been plunged into unprecedented violence and vandalism last week over the alleged refusal of the authorities to hand over a headless body of a boy to his family.
The boy, Prashant, had allegedly been kidnapped and emurderedf over a love affair. In an anti-climax, Prashant and his companion Preeti were found in Mehrauli in New Delhi on Monday. Both of them have been taken on transit remand by Bihar police and will be brought to Madhubani on Thursday and produced in the local court.
Their statements will be recorded under Section 164 of CrPC. Besides, a medical examination of the girl will also be conducted. Darbhanga zone IG J S Gangwar said that the police would also ascertain as to who were the people behind the conspiracy and who spread the rumour that the body was that of Prashant. "Besides, we also want to know at whose behest Prashant's mother sat on a dharna to claim the headless body," he added.
Intelligence sources said the involvement of locals in the attacks was on a very small scale, while a large number of troublemakers came from nearby districts, and even Nepal. Police brass also asked the Madhubani police to identify the banned outfits as well as antisocial elements suspected to have indulged in the violence.
Police sources said that the land mafia might be behind the setting afire of the office of the deputy collector land records. "Some of the panchayati raj representatives as well as local brokers are also under scanner for the fire at the block office," they added.
Confirming this, Madhubani SP Ranjit Kumar Mishra said, "The cases have been lodged for unlawful assembly, rioting, arson and criminal conspiracy. In some cases, sections dealing with attempt to murder have also been included as several policemen, including a DSPrank official, sustained serious injuries."
Mishra said two special investigation teams (SITs) had been constituted for a probe into the entire turn of events. "While one SIT will probe the kidnapping of the girl, the other will go into different dimensions of the violence and arson unleashed in Madhubani," he added. It would also be ascertained if Prashant and Preeti were in touch of their families.
Mishra appealed to people to make available any photograph or video footage that they might have of the violent incidents. "We will give them suitable rewards and keep their identity confidential," he added. "The situation is under complete control and we have taken measures to ensure that there is no recurrence.
Adequate police force has been stationed at all sensitive places and troublemakers will be strictly dealt with. We are in the process of identifying those who resorted to violence," said IG Gangwar.