Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, November 1
Five days after firing and lathi-charge on devotees of Durga during the immersion of the idols in Munger town, First Information Report (FIR) was filed on Sunday at Kotwali police station against “unknown policemen.”
Manajavjeet Singh Dhillon, the newly appointed SP of Munger said today, the district police received video footage of the action during the immersion from Bata Chowk and Deendayal Chowk, the epicentres of violence and on the basis of the video footage, FIR has been filed against the policemen for unauthorised and unwarranted “lathi charge” on the devotees.
Action would be taken against the erring cops after they are identified, he said.
Dhillon said Anmarnath Poddar, father of Anurag Poddar (22), who was killed in firing has filed an FIR at Kotwali police station which has been attached to FIR no 298. Kotwali police had filed FIR against anti-social elements for violence and Poddar’s FIR too has been attached to the same FIR.
Poddar in his FIR on October 27 had alleged his son was killed by police though he was innocent. SP said if a fresh FIR is filed by Poddar, an independent investigation would be conducted. Poddar FIR was against the policemen who had killed his son, he said.
One person was killed and 8 wounded in police firing. Over 100 were injured in lathi-charge. The then SP, Ms Lipi Singh had denied use of force or firing by police and blamed the anti-social elements for firing.
On the instructions of the Election Commission, both DM and SP were transferred and divisional commissioner of Magadah division, Asangha Chuba Ao was asked to investigate the incident and submit its report within a week (November 3).
Ao is camping in Munger Circuit House and conducting investigations. He summoned local officials and saw the documents of different police stations.
Munger violence had invited sharp reactions from the opposition and leader of opposition, Tejaswhi Prasad Yadav even described the then SP General Dyer and wanted her arrest. LJP president, Chirag Paswan has alleged the SP got protection from the chief minister as her father was secretary general of JDU and earlier secretary to Nitish Kumar.
To bring her back to Patna on the instructions of the Election Commission, a state helicopter was sent and the rural development minister,Shailesh Kumar Singh,who is a JDU candidate from Jamalpur in Munger district accompanied the outgoing SP, which was termed as violation of the model code of conduct.
Trouble had started when the Munger police insisted on immersion lon Monday morning in place of Tuesday. The rituals attached to immersion were not allowed to be followed by the police and this angered the locals who alleged their religious sentiments were hurt.
Next day, locals organised a March Justice for Anurag and set on fire four police stations, attacked SP office and residence of the sub-divisional magistrate.
