Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday (February 4, 2025) slammed the Nitish Kumar government over the alleged assault of an Imam in police custody in Madhubani district.
Five policemen of the Benipatti police station have been suspended in this connection.
Attacking the government, Mr. Yadav said, “Police anarchy had spread across the State owing to an ‘unconscious’ Chief Minister in Bihar. The government discriminated against people on the basis of caste and religion.”
“In Madhubani’s Kataiya, Benipatti, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) brutally beat up an Imam, Mohammad Firoz, without any reason. I visited Benipatti on Monday (February 5, 2025) to meet the victim. The Nitish Kumar government has shown its cruel and inhumane face with its atrocities, injustice and exploitation of a member of the minority community,” Mr. Yadav said.
He further said, “Nitish Kumar is the Home Minister owing to which corruption in the police is at its peak. The police have created havoc in Madhubani. The police kill anyone whenever they want. It does not matter whether our government is formed or not, but I will never tolerate injustice, atrocities and discrimination in society.”
SHO, 4 others face action
Madhubani Superintendent of Police (SP) Yogendra Kumar has suspended the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Benipatti police station, a havildar, constable, and two chowkidars in connection with the incident.
The SP said that Mr. Firoz fell from his two-wheeler while trying to evade the police during vehicle checking on January 29. The police personnel then brought him to the police station. The Imam, who was later released on personal bond, alleged that he was beaten up mercilessly by the police.
While speaking to the media, the SP said the “use of force while apprehending him cannot be ruled out”.
Breaks down
During the meeting with Mr. Yadav, the Imam said the policemen pulled his hair and beard, slapped him, and beat him with a wooden stick until it broke. They also did not give him water initially. They mocked his faith and extorted ₹25,000 before releasing him, he said and broke down in front of Mr. Yadav, who is also the Leader Of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
“If someone looks at Muslims with an evil eye, then we know how to give a befitting reply to those people. The police should listen carefully, you people are servants of the public. You get your salary from the money of this public. Our party will approach the Human Rights Commission against such officers and will ensure that they are punished,” Mr. Yadav said.
He added, “Out of the 20 MLAs of Darbhanga and Madhubani, 17 belong to the BJP and the Janata Dal-(United). For 20 years, the MPs of Madhubani-Darbhanga-Jhanjharpur came from these two parties. All of them have become useless and incompetent.”
Mr. Yadav alleged that a few months ago, a youth, Rahul Kumar Jha, was brutally beaten by the police under the Benipatti station limits.
Published - February 04, 2025 08:47 pm IST
