Police Teargas, Lathi-Charge on BJP Protesters in Patna, Party Alleges One Death in Lathi-Charge

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, July 13: Police burst tear gas shells, used water cannons and batons in Patna to prevent BJP workers from marching towards the Bihar Assembly to protest against corruption and the government doing away with the domicile requirement for the recruitment of teachers.

Heavy security had been put in place in the city to prepare for the protest march, which began at Gandhi Maidan. A police official said some of the protesters threw chilli powder at them.

The BJP later alleged that one of its leaders from Jehanabad died, allegedly during police lathi charge, while participating in the protest. The BJP MP and former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi claimed the party’s Jehanabad district general secretary died due to injuries suffered in the “brutal” police lathi charge, but the authorities at the Patna Medical College Hospital said there were no external injuries on the body.

“Arrested by Bihar police in Patna, Jehanabad dist GS Vijay Kumar Singh died in brutal police lathi charge,” Modi tweeted. The superintendent of the Patna Medical College Hospital Medical Superintendent I S Thakur confirmed the death but hospital authorities said he was brought dead and there were no external injuries on his body. They said only a post-mortem would reveal the exact cause of death. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Rajiv Mishra said “He (Singh) was found unconscious at Chajju Bagh, which is quite some distance from Dak Bungalow Chowk (the main area of protest and police lathi charge). There is no external injury on his body. The exact reason of death can be ascertained only after a post-mortem.”

Singh had been in the BJP for over 20 years. His wife Pratima Devi told reporters: “My husband had no major health issues. He died because of police excesses. We demand a high-level inquiry into the incident.” Singh had left for Patna alongside over 50 party workers to take part in the march. The BJP said the party would lodge a case against the Patna police in the matter. BJP would also take out a march from Vidhan Sabha to Raj Bhavan on Friday.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said, “Vijay Singh sacrificed his life for the rights of the people of Bihar and to ensure that they get justice. The state showed barbarity by ordering a lathi-charge and authorising the use of tear gas leading to his death. The government should resign.” “BJP Members of Parliament, MLAs and workers have been injured in the hundreds and are admitted in different hospitals,” he claimed.

The BJP also alleged dozens of its leaders and workers were injured when they tried to cross police barriers and march towards the Vidhan Sabha. The police have also claimed that the lathi-charge and other measures became necessary as the protesters threw stones and red chilli powder at them.

The BJP has been protesting against the Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan government, and in support of the teachers’ demand to immediately fill vacancies and restore the domicile clause. The BJP has also demanded the resignation of deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav in an alleged land-for-job scam after the CBI filed a charge-sheet against him.

The BJP’s Samrat Choudhary, who is the leader of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council and was part of the protest march, said, “Nitish Kumar, you can lathi charge all you like, but I will continue to fight against you. The lathi charge is being done by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s goons.” MP Rakesh Sinha, Shahnawaz Hussain and other senior BJP leaders also took part in the protest march.

Earlier in the day, marshals had evicted two BJP MLAs from the Bihar Assembly and snatched posters and placards from other members of the party. All BJP MLAs then staged a walkout to protest against the eviction of MLAs Jibesh Kumar and Kumar Shailendra. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary slammed the conduct of the BJP MLAs. He said the government headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was sensitive to the needs of the people and was ready to respond to all issues raised by members.

“The conduct of the opposition members since yesterday, when they smashed a chair and tried to upturn the table, shows they have no respect for democratic norms. Perhaps, they are desperate realising that their political future is uncertain,” he said.