Three persons were lynched by unruly mobs in two separate incidents, while two women were raped and murdered in Bihar on Wednesday, raising serious questions over the law and order situation prevailing in the state.
In CM Nitish Kumar's home district Nalanda, the murder of a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Indal Paswan, triggered violence in the Maghanda Sarai village, where Paswan's supporters set afire the house of Chunni Lal, suspected to be the person behind Paswan's murder. Lal's associate, Ranjan Yadav and Sintu Malakar, were beaten to death by the mob.
Paswan's supporters also staged demonstrations against the NDA government in Bihar, cornering it over the "deteriorating law and order" in the state. Police had to deploy additional forces to bring the situation under control. Police sources said rivalry was the cause behind Paswan's murder.
The second incident of "mobocracy" was reported from Araria district where a villager was thrashed to death on charges of stealing cattle. Police launched an investigation into the case when a video of the incident went viral on social media. "The victim has been identified as Mohammad Kabul, against whom several cases were lodged. We are trying to identify the culprits in the video and strict action will be taken against them," said a senior police officer.
Leader of Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, targeted the government over the lynchings and tweeted, "Mobocracy prevails in Bihar. 3 people died due to mob lynchings in last 24 hours. Mandate robbers led by Nitish Kumar has turned Bihar into "Lynch-Vihar". 7 Murders in last 24 hours. Law and order is out of control in Bihar as Nitish government is working hand-in-glove with criminals."
Meanwhile, two incidents of rape and murder were reported from West Champaran district, where the bodies of a 45-year-old woman and a minor girl were recovered by police on Wednesday. "It is suspected that both were raped and then murdered. Both cases are being investigated," a police source said.
