Mob burns several houses, kills three
(In the picture: Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi – Story Matters India
Muzaffarpur – Three people from a particular community were burnt alive after an irate mob set several houses on fire in protest against the killing of an abducted youth in a village in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar on Sunday.
The police said that the three villagers had been charred to death beyond recognition as a mob went on a rampage in Ajitpur village, which falls under the Saraiya police station.
Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who had gone to Shirdi along with his family, ordered a high-level inquiry by the principal secretary (Home) and additional director-general of police (Headquarters). He said that stern actions would be taken against those involved in the incident. Manjhi, who is cutting short his Mumbai trip to return to Patna on Monday, said that security in and around the village had been tightened.
Manjhi also announced an ex gratia of 5 lakh to the kin of those victims and `50,000 for the injured. The CM also appealed to the people not to believe in any rumors, reported dailymail.co.uk.
Manjhi spoke to Mahachandra Prasad Singh, Ramai Ram and Manoj Kushwaha—all ministers from the district—to inquire about the situation and asked them to visit the village to restore peace in the area. Manjhi was earlier scheduled to return to Patna on Wednesday.
According to the police, the trouble started when the body of an abducted 19-year-old youth was found on Sunday morning near the house of a villager, who happened to be the main accused in the case. The youth had reportedly eloped with a girl of a particular community from the village earlier.
The news about the recovery of the body soon spread in the area and a mob laid siege to the house of the accused soon thereafter. It set several houses, including that of the accused, on fire leaving three persons dead.
The police arrested one person in the abduction-cum-murder case and also launched manhunt to arrest those who had indulged in arson and killing. Senior police officers had rushed to monitor the situation in the village. The youth had gone missing nine days ago.
