Bihar: ASI murdered by villagers in Munger, second cop to die in a week

A few days after an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police died during a violent clash in Bihar’s Araria district, fellow policeman Santosh Kumar Singh died on Saturday, 15 March after sustaining grievous injuries during a scuffle with villagers in Munger district late on Friday night.

Munger superintendent of police Syed Imran Masood told IANS that the ASI succumbed to head injuries in Patna on Saturday at around 4.00 am. The incident occurred at Nandlalpur village under the jurisdiction of Mufassil police station in the district. The deceased has been identified as Santosh Kumar Singh, a resident of Mohania block, Kaimur who was posted at Mufassil police station for a year.

“We had received information about one Ranveer Kumar creating a ruckus in a drunken state in Nandlalpur villager. Accordingly, a DAIL 112 team led by ASI Santosh Kumar Singh was sent to control the situation. When he reached there and tried to intervene in the matter, Ranveer and his family members attacked the police team with sharp weapons, leaving Santosh with serious skull injuries,” Sadar Range SDPO Abhishek Anand said.

Police personnel present at the crime scene rescued ASI Singh and took him to a private hospital. As his condition was critical, doctors referred him to Patna for better treatment.

Following the incident, Ranveer Kumar’s family fled from the area. However, the district police has managed to nab five accused so far and police are making efforts to trace the remaining accused. A case of murder has been registered against Ranveer and his family members at Mufassil police station and further investigation is underway.

The law and order situation under chief minister Nitish Kumar's government in Bihar has been called into question as on 12 March, another ASI was killed during a violent clash in Araria district. The deceased was identified as Rajiv Ranjan Mall, posted at Fulkaha police station in Araria. ASI Mal, who had been serving at Fulkaha police station for the last two years, had gone with his team to arrest an accused named Anmol Yadav.

The police team faced fierce resistance from villagers, leading to a scuffle. During the clash, ASI Mal fell and sustained serious injuries. He was rushed to Araria Sadar Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The political parties who have been taking on the NDA government for the poor law and order in Bihar are sure to give CM Nitish Kumar a hard time over this latest attack on the police.

With agency inputs