M A I N   N E W S

Black day observed in Bihar

Patna, January 1
The NDA today observed black day in Bihar demanding the arrest and registration of a murder case against the policemen involved in the alleged fake encounter in which three youths were killed on Saturday.

Senior NDA leaders, including former Union minister, C.P. Thakur, Raghunath Jha (Samata) and Nand Kishore Yadav (BJP), led a procession wearing black ribbons around their mouth in the state capital and charged the Rabri Devi ministry with trying to shield the policemen involved in the incident.

The killing of the youths in the alleged police encounter at Ashiana Nagar has sparked off a wave of protest with Opposition parties launching a vehement agitation to press the government for the arrest of policemen, institution of case under section 302 (murder) of the IPC and providing compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each of the bereaved families.

Widespread violence broke out during the Patna bandh called by the Opposition yesterday with protesters indulging in arson, firing and vandalism destroying several vehicles and shops.

Buoyed by the overwhelming response to yesterday’s Patna bandh, NDA, CPI-ML (L) and Indian Federal Democratic Party have given separate calls for Bihar bandh on January 3.

Demanding immediate dismissal or resignation of the Rabri Devi government NDA leaders, Dr Thakur, Mr Jha and Mr Yadav declared that the agitation would continue till the state government took proper steps.

Meanwhile, RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav, announced that the state government had taken a decision in principle to give Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the aggrieved families of the three students killed in the alleged fake encounter.

Meanwhile, the suspended Sub-inspector of the Shastri Nagar police station Samshe Alam was arrested here today.

Director-General of Police R R Prasad told PTI that CID sleuths probing the case took Alam into custody in connection with the killings of three students in the alleged fake encounter. PTI