Mob Assaults Bihar Police, Injures 5 Cops Amid Bid To Free Liquor Smuggling Accused In Katihar
A mob attacked the Dandkhora police station in Bihar's Katihar district on Saturday morning to free an arrested man. Five police personnel, including the SHO, were injured in the attack.
In Bihar's Katihar district, a mob allegedly stormed the Dandkhora police station on Saturday morning in an attempt to free an arrested man, resulting in injuries to five police personnel, including the station house officer (SHO). The confrontation reportedly began after Dandkhora police arrested Suraj Kumar from Navada village on Friday evening in connection with a liquor smuggling case.
According to a report by The Indian Express, sources said that Kumar was due to be sent to judicial custody on Saturday morning when a mob, allegedly including Kumar’s relatives, reached the station and resorted to violence, physically assaulting officers and vandalising the premises.
Katihar Superintendent of Police (SP) Vaibhav Sharma said, “At around 6 am, approximately 150 to 200 villagers came to the police station to free Suraj.”
“The attackers manhandled staff at the police station, causing minor injuries to five personnel. CCTV footage is being analysed and identification of perpetrators is underway,” SP Sharma added, as per IE's report.
The officer also informed that “five individuals — four women and one man — were immediately arrested from the scene” and that further raids were being conducted to apprehend others identified through video evidence and investigation.
“During the investigation, the local village head was also found to have been involved. We are registering an FIR and naming him as one of the accused. The names of all others identified through the cameras will also be recorded,” SP Sharma said, as per the report.
IE cited sources as indicating that during the attack, personnel at the police station fired in the air to disperse the crowd. Among those injured was SHO Om Prakash Mahto. All injured personnel were subsequently hospitalised and are reported to be in stable condition.
Four Arrested For Firing At Police In Patna
In a separate incident, four people have been arrested for allegedly firing at police personnel during a vehicle inspection drive in Bihar’s Patna district, officials said on Sunday. According to a PTI report, the incident occurred near Parade Ground in the Bihta area on Saturday night.
Officials stated that police personnel retaliated in self-defence to control the armed men, and no injuries were reported during the confrontation. An official statement mentioned that the police had attempted to intercept a vehicle carrying scrap material during the inspection drive, but the driver did not stop.
A police team pursued the vehicle and managed to seize it in a residential locality. However, locals allegedly created chaos in an attempt to free the vehicle, during which the gunmen opened fire, prompting the police to retaliate. Additional security forces were deployed to bring the situation under control.
“So far, four people have been arrested, and a manhunt is underway to apprehend others involved in the incident,” the statement added.
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