Bihar: JD(U) MLA’s ‘supporters’ threaten to throw cop into Ganga

‘Supporters’ of a Janata Dal(United) MLA allegedly threatened to throw a police officer in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district into the Ganga, in the second such incident of a tussle between politicians and police in the state after the new government took oath, officials said on Wednesday.

The men, driving an SUV, allegedly threatened RK Gupta, deputy superintendent of police (headquarters), after he stopped them on the 4-km long Vikramshila Setu late on Monday. The SUV had jumped a long queue of vehicles stranded in a traffic snarl-up on the bridge that connects Bhagalpur with Naugachia.

The men claimed to be supporters of Gopalpur JD(U) legislator Narendra Kumar Neeraj alias Gopal Mandal.

Additional superintendent of police (ASP) Avkash Kumar said the MLA’s supporters entered into a brawl with Gupta, who was managing traffic on the bridge. He said they dashed their vehicle against another four-wheeler after failing in their effort and were compelled to retreat.

The DSP’s bodyguard has lodged an FIR saying that the men tried to drag the officer, who was saved by the timely intervention of some truck drivers.

The ASP said the Barari police station has lodged different cases against five persons for intimidating and preventing a government officer from discharging his duties.

Mandal, who was not present in the vehicle, has, however, denied the involvement of any of his supporters in the incident.

The incident comes close on the heels of an FIR lodged against newly-elected Rashtriya Janata Dal MLA from Barhara, Saroj Yadav, for threatening the station house officer (SHO) of the Char Pokhri police station in Bhojpur district.

On November 23, Yadav had allegedly threatened SHO Kunwar Gupta with dire consequences over the telephone. The MLA was reportedly peeved at the cop for lodging a complaint in a twin murder case at a village under the police station.

The MLA, however, denied he had threatened the officer and said that he had merely enquired about the police inaction in the case.