Munger violence: Police high-handedness? In a major revelation about the violence in Bihar's Munger on the night of October 26, the Bihar Police is being blamed for friring first. The incident happened during the Durga Puja idol immersion in Munger. The Bihar police have been claiming that miscreants fired first. However, an internal report by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) claims it was the police who fired first. The Munger incident is likely to become a political hot potato with elections in progress in Bihar. The report is likely to create trouble for the Munger SP Lipi Singh as well as the district administration which had earlier blamed anti-social elements for the incident in which a person was killed and many others injured.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has submitted a report on the October 26 violence in Bihar’s Munger to its headquarters in Delhi and the Election Commission. It has stated that the local police fired first and when the situation went out of control, the CISF also fired later in the air.
When contacted, Jitendra Kumar, Additional Director General of Bihar Police, said that he has not received any report from the CISF.
“We are doing the investigation with a team headed by Magadh range Divisional Commissioner and the report will be submitted to the Election Commission in seven days,” Kumar said.
the report prepared by the CISF says that an altercation took place between the local police and the devotees over the slow pace of the Goddess Durga immersion procession.
“Subsequently, some of the locals pelted stones on the police party. In retaliation, local police fired in the air. As a result, devotees got more angry and intensified the stone pelting.
“In view of the tense situation, a team of the CISF comprising 20 personnel and other para military forces were deployed there to restore peace.
“Since, there was heavy stone pelting from the other side and the situation was out of control, M. Gangaiah, a CISF personnel, fired 13 rounds from an Insas rifle in the air to control the situation. After firing in the air, a mob dispersed from the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Chowk,” the report said.
On Friday, the Munger Police claimed that 100 bullets and two magazines were missing from the Purab Sarai police station. This police station was vandalised by agitators on Thursday who were not satisfied with the police action.
Local residents claimed that the Munger Police resorted to firing on Monday night around 11.45 p.m., leaving one person dead and several others injured.
Earlier, the Bihar Police had claimed that the firing was the work of some anti-social elements and not the police.
The Election Commission had directed the Bihar government to conduct a high level inquiry into the violence. Asangba Chuba AO, the Divisional Commissioner, has been given the responsibility of the investigation.
Meanwhile, a team of Congress leaders met the Governor and demanded strict action in the case.
“We have met the Governor of Bihar. During the half an hour meeting with him, he listened to our points and assured us that proper action will be taken.”
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the Munger incident was an attack on Hindutva.
“If such an incident would have taken place in Maharashtra, West Bengal or Rajasthan, the Governor and the BJP leaders would have asked for President’s rule. As the incident has happened in Bihar which is ruled by the NDA, none of the leaders are talking about it,” he said.
The Congress has cornered the BJP and the NDA and has been raising the issue to keep the NDA government on the backfoot.
On Friday, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala met Bihar governor Phagu Chauhan to submit a memorandum and sought the dismissal of the Nitish Kumar government.
With the violence in Munger, the Congress has got an opportunity to corner the BJP of Hindutva, a cause that the BJP has been championing. “Why is the Prime Minister silent on it?” asked Randeep Surjewala.
The Congress said when the SP and DM were removed from the post by Election Commission, it is a case of bad governance.
The opposition has also blamed the Munger SP at the time of the incident, who is the daughter of a senior JDU leader.
“I want to ask through you the question: is it a crime in this country to do Durga Puja with all requisite safeguards and if it is some violation, is this the way to treat human beings, like cattle? Is there no respect for human dignity for this absolutely barbaric, cruel, unthinking, insensitive government?” asked Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Congress ally Shiv Sena has also attacked the government on the issue. Its MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said that the violent incidents in Munger district of Bihar are an attack on ‘Hindutva’ and questioned why the state government is keeping silent in the matter.
“At least one person was killed in the police firing after violence erupted during the Goddess Durga immersion…This is a direct assault on ‘Hindutva’ in Bihar. But what is the state government doing in the matter?” asked Raut. (IANS)