Clean chit to cops has Bihar police surprised

Patna: A day after a human rights panel in Bihar absolved two policemen of handing out harsh punishment to the thief in Bhagalpur, the political blame game has begun and opposition parties are up in arms.

The Human Rights Committee of the state Legislative Council had absolved the policemen of any guilt, despite them being filmed tying a young man to a motorcycle and dragging him through the streets.

The state government has gone on a defensive.

"The verdict is right. The state police wasn’t at fault really. They just did their duty,” says Bihar’s Urban Development Mininster, Ahwani Chawbey.

But the Opposition intends to stall the Assembly over the panel's report.

“If it comes to opposing the verdict, Congress will do so on the floor of Vidhan Sabha. This incident is a black spot on state government,” says former Congress minister, Ashok Chaudhary.

Strangely enough, the state bureaucracy too seems reluctant to accept the report.

"Both policemen have been dismissed and have appealed. We have the video footage with us and the policeman who dragged him around will be taken to the forensic lab. The investigation is on,” says Bihar’s Home Secretary, Afzal Amanullah.

Even the police top brass defend the dismissal of the accused cops.

"We looked to the media footage and at the evidence which was available that time and then decided on this course of action. We terminated them from the service and this stands,” says IG Headquarters, Anil Sinha..

The clean chit to the cops comes at a most inopportune time for the state government which is already under fire for rising incidents of mob fury in Bihar.

With the Winter Session of the Assembly set to begin soon, a resurgent opposition intends to use this issue to score brownie points.

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)

#mob justice #bhagalpur #bihar