SHOCK AND SHAME
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Rule of law be damned, the mob rules in Bihar
Published on Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 23:01, Updated on Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 23:18 in India section
Tags: Mob Justice, Hajipur , Patna
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Patna: Vigilante justice seems to be fast emerging as the preferred justice delivery mechanism in Bihar.
In a chilling reminder of the Bhagalpur incident, a murder suspect was beaten up by a mob in Bihar's Hajipur district on Saturday even as policemen watched.
Ravi Kumar, a student in his 20s, had allegedly killed his friend Om Prakash in a quarrel over a cell phone in Hajipur's Pokhra neighbourhood, just 30 km from the state capital.
Kumar is now battling for life at a hospital in Patna. But what makes this case shocking is the apathy of policemen who chose to remain mute spectators.
Says ADG, Bihar Police, "Policemen were standing but there were not enough policemen. There was one ASI and four homeguards. They were overpowered.”
Even the President Pratibha Patil was moved into make a statement. “We cannot allow a situation where the common man is tempted to take law in his own hands or to the deviant culture of the lynch mob.”
The chain of events
The police brought an injured Ravi to this Hajipur hospital after arresting him for allegedly fatally stabbing his roommate early Saturday morning.
Ravi was accused by Om Prakash of stealing his mobile phone. Apparently a fight broke out between them and both were injured. Om Prakash succumbed to injuries on his way to the hospital.
The mob, onlookers say, were avenging Om Prakash's death.
The policemen who watched in silence are now paying a price. Says Sinha, "We have taken action against the policemen. ASI has already been suspended."
No arrests have been made so far.
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The television channels showed the video recording of the incident.
The policemen seemed too old in the video and fatigued.
Were these
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