Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, April 6
A new outfit of upper castes Maithil Brahmins identified as Ravan Sena had allegedly gunned down five upper caste Rajput youths at Mahmudpur village in Madhubani district last week.
Root cause of violence, according to the families of the victims was-refusal to supply banned Gutkas to them. The Maithil Brahmins on the other hand have alleged the Rajputs have prevented them from fishing in the village pond.
Leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who led a team of upper caste leaders in his party, visited the village and claimed the Maithils had formed a new militant organisation-Ravan Sena and they resorted to bloody Holi on the festival of colours by firing indiscriminately on the five youths, who died on the spot. Tejaswhi alleged though the nearest police station-Benipatti was three kms away from the village, police came eight hours after the firing.
He alleged the district SP and deputy SP were close to the accused and refused to entertain complaints.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met a delegation of upper caste Rajput leaders from his party at his residence and assured all accused would be arrested. The JDU delegation was led by former minister Jaikumar Singh, who also complained about the indifferent attitude of the police.
Senior BJP leader and forest minister Neeraj Kumar Babloo, cousin of film star SSR who died last year, also visited the village and alleged due to connivance of the police, Rajput youths were killed.
Former Governor of Kerala and former police commissioner of Delhi Nikhil Kumar visited the village along with some senior Congress leaders and alleged police was soft on the accused. A delegation of LJP led by its MP Ms Veena Devi too met the families of the victims and complained against police.
Chief Minister directed the DG of police to ensure arrest of all accused. According to the SP of Madhubani, Satyaprakash said eight people have been arrested. He said the government has directed for speedy trial of the case in Fast Track court.
There are 35 names as accused in the FIR. He said following orders from the chief judicial magistrate, property of the two accused have been confiscated and families of the remaining accused were told to ensure surrender of all accused, who had reportedly fled to neighbouring Nepal.
