A woman was thrashed and paraded naked by a violent mob on Monday morning in Bhojpur district on the suspicion of being involved in the murder of a local youth.
The body of Bimlesh Sao, 19, was found on a railway track at Bihiya town, some 25 kms from Ara, the district headquarters of Bhojpur, on Monday morning.
Later, a mob from Damodarpur village, where Sao belonged to, took to the streets and started vandalising shops and vehicles. The violent mob said the teenager was strangled to death and his body was thrown on the railway track to cover up the murder.
They suspected a woman living in the red-light area of Bihiya town was behind the murder, and she was dragged to the street.
The mob later ripped off her clothes, thrashed and paraded her naked in full public view.
All along, she pleaded her innocence but no one came to her rescue.
The mob also threw stones at trains passing on the track nearby.
Later, the police had to open fire to disperse the agitating mob and take the woman in to custody.
She was taken to the local hospital and is under police protection.
“Altogether 15 persons, including a local RJD leader Kaushal Yadav have been arrested in the case…Seven policemen, including the local Bihiya police station officer-in-charge, have been suspended for dereliction of duty”, Awakash Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Bhojpur, told local journalists.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the State assembly Tejashwi Yadav tweeted, “In Bihar a woman is allegedly stripped, thrashed and paraded naked by a mob in a lawless state. I'm speechless and numb to see the heart wrenching videos of that woman. Nitish Ji, with folded hands I request you to fix law and order and ensure women safety and security. Please.”
The Opposition leaders have slammed the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government for the spurt in crime against women in Bihar, while, ruling NDA leaders said police have taken action and arrested 15 persons in the case.
“The law is taking its own course and nobody found involved in the incident will be spared…some policemen too have been suspended”, said JD(U) leader and party spokesperson Neeraj Kumar.