Munger violence: Police personnel opened fire after stones were pelted, says CISF report

On the night of October 26, a police firing accident took place in Bihar's Munger, in which a youth was shot dead. The incident took place during the idol immersion and the issue has ever since caused a row.

A CISF report has now been filed in which it is mentioned that the police officials opened fire in order to control the mob. The mob first pelted stones at the police officials. It is only after that the police fired in the air and was done in self-defense. Furthermore, the firing was only done to disperse the mob, who after the firing continued stone-pelting heavily.

Giving a detailed account of the incident, CISF reports states, “on the request of Munger Kotwali police station a CISF detachment was sent from the camp to the district school for the protection of the idol immersion procession. On October 26, at 11:20 pm, a contingent of 20 CISF personnel was deployed. The Munger police divided these 20 soldiers into two groups of 10 each.”

“A group was posted along with SSB and Bihar Police personnel at Deendayal Upadhyay Chowk, Munger. The dispute between the devotees and the police began around 11:45 pm on the night of 26 October. After this, some people started stone pelting on police and security forces. During the stone pelting, the Munger police first opened air firing. After the firing, the crowd became more agitated and stones also intensified. Seeing the situation uncontrollable, CISF head constable M Gangaiah fired 13 rounds of bullets from his INSAS rifle. After the firing, the mob of angry people dispersed. After this, the personnel of CISF, SSB and local police returned to their camp safely.”

SP Lipi Singh had termed the violence during the immersion of the statue in Munger as an act of anti-social elements. She had said that anti-social elements pelted stones at the police and fired on the crowd and spread rumors in the city.