PATNA: The station house officers of three police stations and two police outpost in-charges have been removed in Munger on the direction of the Election Commission in connection with the alleged firing during Durga Puja idol immersion on October 26 resulting in the death of a youth.
Six people were injured, including two with bullet wounds, during the clashes that led to retaliation by a rampaging mob on October 29 when the Kotwali, Mufassil and Kasim Bazaar police stations were torched along with Purabsarai and Vasudevpur outposts. The SP’s office was also ransacked.
DM Rajesh Meena and SP Lipi Singh were removed by the EC on October 29.
Munger SP Manavjeet Singh Dhillon on Saturday said the five officers were removed and attached to police lines on Friday night and new postings were notified. Dhillon said the recommendation was forwarded to the EC for their removal.
“We had recommended names of three officers for each of the posts to the EC against which it finalised the removal of five,” he said.
“Show-cause was served to five erring officers on why they failed to gather prior intelligence on excess crowd gathering at puja places and in procession and at several other points,” he said.
The SP said an INSAS and a self-loading rifle (SLR) of two SAP jawans were seized and sent to the forensic laboratory in Bhagalpur to ascertain if any recent firing had taken place from the weapons.
“There are rumours that these two jawans had opened fire on devotees. To clear the air, this action has been taken,” the SP said, adding 140 cartridges and an SLR magazine are missing from Purabsarai outpost after the mob attack.
SP said a three-hour marathon meeting of the special investigation team consisting of three DSPs, four inspectors and two sub-inspectors took place on Friday to review all 16 cases registered in connection with the firing and both violence. “Necessary directions were given to all 16 investigating officers. No arresting has been made yet,” he said.
Dhillon said a peace committee meeting presided by DM Rachna Patil also took place on Saturday to ensure peaceful Chhatth and Kali Puja celebrations in Munger.