Bihar: Communal tension in Chhapra, 12 held

Twelve people were arrested Sunday from Chhapra in Bihar for allegedly trying to instigate trouble triggered by communal videos, which have been in circulation on social media for the past two days. The district administration has deployed heavy police force in several parts of the town. On Saturday, one policeman was injured after locals clashed with the police and pelted stones at them.

Saran SP Pankaj Kumar Raj said: “We have lodged 15 FIRs against 100 people for causing disruptions. The district administration has decided to discontinue Internet services till Monday.”

Police suspended Maker police station in-charge, Sanjay Gupta, for negligence of duty as social media messages were circulated from his area. The communal tension had built up from Maker and later spread to Sahabganj and Khanuanala areas.

Police on Sunday carried out a flag march. Bus and train services were reinstated. However, road traffic remained partially disturbed in Siwan-Chhapra-Patna route. This is the third case of communal tension in Chhapra in the last one and a half years.