New Delhi: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Monday ordered a probe against a bureaucrat for allegedly thrashing and beating a job aspirat in Patna. The Patna Additional District Magistrate was caught on tape assaulting the youth — a candidate of State Teaching Eligibility Test (STET) who was participating in a protest demanding jobs — the video of which has now gone viral on social media.
Acknowledging the incident, Deputy CM Yadav said that an enquiry committee had been formed pertaining to the matter.
"Lathi charge was done to control students taking out a protest march in Patna wherein the ADM was thrashing a STET candidate. An Inquiry committee has been made and strict actions will be taken against him, if found guilty," Yadav said.
He also requested the students “to be patient”. “ We are working on solving their issues. We have been fighting for jobs. We have announced on 15th August that 10 lakh jobs will be given,” Yadav added.
Protests In Patna By Job Aspirants, Workers Of Jan Adhikar Party
As per a report by news agency PTI, ruckus erupted in Patna earlier in the day when hundreds of people, many owing allegiance to a political party, staged a demonstration to press several demands
Quoting Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh as saying the news agency reported, trouble erupted at the Dak Bungalow crossing where two separate groups, one comprising teachers’ eligibility test qualified candidates seeking jobs and the other consisting of workers of the Jan Adhikar Party, gathered and tried to proceed towards the Raj Bhavan, situated a couple of kilometres away.
“It was a huge crowd that could not have been allowed to proceed beyond Dak Bungalow crossing. Mild use of force was resorted to as they refused to disperse despite an offer that a five-member delegation can visit the Raj Bhavan along with a magistrate and submit a memorandum,” the DM said.
Action Against The Police Official
When asked about the incident of the official raining blows on youth, the DM said the administration has set up a two-member inquiry committee to look into the allegations and examine the video footage.
“The committee will submit its report in two days and action may be taken accordingly,” he said.
The DM, however, also said that a case will also be registered against those who took part in the demonstration. “No processions are allowed at the Dak Bungalow crossing and hence, the protesters will be booked under relevant sections,” he added.
Congress Condemns Police Official's Act
Ruling party ally Congress strongly condemned the action of the police official in the viral video.
State Congress spokesman Asit Nath Tiwari, whose party is an ally of the ruling coalition, issued a strongly worded statement condemning the episode.
“The official is K K Singh, an additional district magistrate with a reputation of high-handedness. During the COVID epidemic, he had commanded citizens to produce videos of themselves beating utensils failing which their applications will not be considered,” Tiwari alleged.