Patna: Two separate incidents of mob violence against police have been reported in Sasaram (Rohtas district) and Bhagalpur in Bihar, resulting in injuries to several policemen and prompting heavy deployment of security forces in the affected areas.
Tension gripped the Sagar locality of Sasaram after a local man, Shahbaz Alam, who had been missing since May 13, was found murdered in a drain near the old building of the town police station in Dalelganj on Sunday night.
Shahbaz’s family had lodged a complaint regarding his disappearance on May 16.
As word of Shahbaz Alam’s discovery spread on Monday morning, enraged residents gathered, accusing the police of negligence and delay, and resorted to stone pelting.
In the ensuing violence, several policemen, including Dalmia Nagar SHO Sushant Kumar Mandal, sustained injuries. SHO Mandal suffered facial wounds and was rushed to Sadar Hospital, Sasaram, for treatment.
To restore order, authorities deployed a large police force, detaining more than six individuals allegedly involved in the attack.
In another incident in Pasi Tola village, Bhagalpur, a police team from Nathnagar’s Lalmatia police station was attacked during a raid against illegal liquor trade on Sunday night.
Acting on a tip-off, police recovered 20 litres of illegal alcohol from a known liquor trader’s house. However, as they attempted to detain the suspect, a crowd—initially led by women and later joined by local men—began pelting stones and bricks.
The violence left three policemen injured, and the police vehicle was damaged in the chaos.
Reinforcements led by City DSP (Town II) Rakesh Kumar soon arrived, and the situation was brought under control after the area was cordoned off.
Ten people, including women, were detained at the site.
“People involved in the illegal liquor trade attacked the police in protest. Ten persons have been taken into custody. The situation is now under control,” said DSP Rakesh Kumar.