Daijiworld Media Network – (NR)
[With input from CNN-IBN]
Patna (Bihar), Aug 29: On Monday, August 28 a man — identified as Salim — was caught trying to snatch a woman's chain in the Nath Nagar area of Bhagalpur. A mob soon gathered and thrashed the man mercilessly after tying his hands at the back. Some members of the crowd also kicked and punched him in the face.
Salim was later tied to a motorcycle and dragged around. One of the footage of the scene shows a policeman riding the motorcycle to which he was tied. All this while, the policemen present there did nothing to stop the mob.
National television channels are presently fully concentrating on this incident, as sympathy for the chain-snatcher is pouring in from all parts of the nation. Though the concerned police officer, who was on duty when the incident took place and has since been suspended from duty, the opposition it seems has seized the opportunity and is using and playing it up as a Muslim card. Quickly the whole unfortunate incident has been turned into a political issue
The Bihar administration seized of the political ramifications of the matter has sent a high level team to Bhagalpur, not only to probe the incident but also to ensure that communal flames don't flare up just like in 1989 which in turn can have serious national consequences.
Bihar Home Secretary, Afzal Amanullah informed, " As soon as we got this news, the
said police officer was suspended. An enquiry is on to investigate why the incident took place."
Just a day after the chain-snatcher was brutally beaten up by a furious mob in the Bhagalpur district, Bihar, the incident has now taken serious political twist.
The battle lines are drawn and RJD activists are out on the streets of Patna trying to ignite the religious sentiments of people and corner the Nitish Kumar government.
Stated a shocked RJD leader, Shyam Rajak, "The way in which this Muslim boy has been treated is so horrible, that I cannot find words to describe it."
The boy, who has been at the center of the controversy, is lying in a Bhagalpur hospital and is now showing signs of recovery albeit slowly. But the moot point is whether the wounds of his humiliation will ever really heal.
In the meanwhile, IG-Headquarters and spokesperson for Bihar Police, Anil Sinha, has admitted that there had been a gross violation of human rights.
"We have condemned the incident in no uncertain manner. We are as horrified as any right thinking citizen in the country would be and have already taken action by suspending the erring policemen. We have also registered an FIR against them. This is a gross violation of human rights and we stand by that," he admitted.
The incident has put the Bihar government in a tight spot. It will now have to answer some embarrassing questions once the National Human Rights Commission team arrives from Delhi to probe the incident.
Watch this news on Video...
Click Here