Five policemen suspended over Muzaffarpur riots

Five police officials were suspended in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district Tuesday for negligence on duty in the light of killings of four people and arson in a village that later turned into a communal clash, police said.

The incident took place in Muslim-dominated Ajitpur Bahilwara village after a 20-year-old Hindu boy's body was found Sunday. He was allegedly abducted and killed over his love affair with a Muslim girl.

Muzaffarpur's Senior Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Mishra suspended five police officials, including the Saraiya police station chief.

"I have ordered the suspension of five officials following the directive of Additional Director General of Police Gupteshwar Pandey, who is camping in the district since Sunday," he said.

Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has already issued a directive for the immediate arrest and speedy trial of culprits involved in the incident.

He also ordered disciplinary action be initiated against all errant police officials who failed to prevent the situation from flaring up.

Muzaffarpur district magistrate Anupam Kumar told IANS by phone that normalcy has returned to the village.

"Now the village is peaceful and calm. The villagers who had fled after the violence to save their lives have returned with an assurance of protection."

A First information Report (FIR) was registered Monday against 2,000 unidentified people and 12 named accused, who were part of the mob that attacked the villagers of a particular community, the official added.

Meanwhile, three people have been detained for videographying the incident site at the village. "Police are interrogating them," officials said.