44 more rioters arrested in Aurangabad and Nalanda

PATNA: 44 more rioters were arrested in Aurangabad and Nalanda district in last 24 hours in connection with the violence that took place during Ram Navami celebration across Bihar.

Aurangabad SP Satya Prakash said that 24 more rioters from two different communities were arrested till Thursday noon from Wednesday evening in connection with the communal violence that took place on March 25 and March 26 under Town police station area.

“Altogether 180 rioters were arrested till now and raids were to arrest more accused. Six more FIRs were lodged with the Town police station on Thursday by those whose shops or other business establishments were damaged during the violence,” he said adding internet services resumed at around 7pm on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Nalanda DM Thiyagarajan SM said the arresting figure has gone upto to 34 till Thursday noon.

“20 more rioters were arrested in addition to the 14 arrested till Wednesday evening,” he said adding internet services were still clamped in the district.

“We have clear video footages of those who tried to break police cordon and deviate from authorised path of Ram Navami procession due to which clash took place on Wednesday morning,” he said adding none would be spared.

He said that a meeting was held between administration and procession organisers on Tuesday in which the latter had assured in written that they won’t deviate from pre-determined routes but still they did the same.

In Munger, a peace march was organised on Thursday which originated from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk in the district and passed through several areas. Clash took place between two communities during an idol immersion process on Tuesday night.

“Civilians, politicians and administrative officials were part of the march which ended at the origin point,” DM Uday Kumar Singh said adding no fresh arresting took place since Wednesday evening.

“At least 15 more rioters were yet to be arrested apart from the seven arrested till Wednesday,” he said.

In Sheikhpura, two participants of a Ram Navami procession were arrested till Thursday noon for involvement in a clash with police after they tried to deviate from authorised path at Girhinda on Wednesday evening.

Officiating SP Dheeraj Kumar said 40 persons were made named accused while 200 more were made unnamed accused in the FIR lodged with Sheikhpura police station in the district.

Meanwhile, in Siwan, no further arresting were made after March 24 evening when an authorised procession was stopped at Nizampur village under Mazharulhaq Nagar police station area leading to communal clash.

SP Naveen Chandra Jha said 17 rioters were arrested immediately after the incident and three separate FIRs were lodged.

Courtesy: TNN