Nitish defends DGP's stand on videography of rioting

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar today defended the director general of police (DGP) Abhay Anand for justifying videography of the riots perpetrated by the supporters of the slain Ranvir Sena chief Brahmeshwar Singh alias Mukhiyaji on the streets here instead of taking action against the rioters on June two last.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar today defended the director general of police (DGP) Abhay Anand for justifying videography of the riots perpetrated by the supporters of the slain Ranvir Sena chief Brahmeshwar Singh alias Mukhiyaji on the streets here instead of taking action against the rioters on June two last.

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"The restraint shown by the district police at the behest of the DGP was fully justified in view of sensitivity and gravity of the situation," he told reporters.

Had the police taken action against the rioters on the fateful day, the consequences could have been disastrous, Kumar said.

The chief minister was undertaking a seva yatra to the Bhagalpur district when the Ranvir Sena chief was gunned down by the assailants in Bhojpur district on June 1, that sparked off riots in Ara town and in the state capital a day later during the funeral of the Sena leader.

Kumar had said, he was himself monitoring the situation and directed the DGP to exercise restraint to deal with the situation (law and order).

Abhay Anand had justified videography of the rioting and registration of cases against the rioters instead of taking action against such elements as a tool of policing while making a presentation at the annual conference of top police officials.

"I am aware of what the DGP has said at the conference and he has also briefed me about his presentation on professional policing. There was nothing wrong in his views," the chief minister said.