RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Feb.16: Police in Hazaribagh are going through a tough situation after Rupesh Pandey (17) was killed by a mob when he was going for immersion of an idol after Saraswati Puja on February 8.
A police official informed this saying as many as seven FIRs were registered in the matter and so far 14 have been arrested so far. “We are still on our toes,” he added.
“The matter has become communally sensitive. One side has given 87 names while another side has given 27 names involved in the clash that broke out after the murder of Pandey. On one hand, the police are taking all care to settle the matter after arresting the real culprits, politics is on taking it. From the road to both houses of parliament, the issue has been raised and it has become tough for the police to handle it,” the official said.
“The Internet service remained suspended for two days taking the issue but after the service was restored trouble makers left no stone unturned to make the issue national, attracting the attention of leaders of other states to interfere in the matter,” the official added.
Superintendent of Police Manoj Ratan admitted the gravity of the situation but at the same time said that ‘there is nothing to worry. The situation is well under control.’
“As far as police action is concerned we are taking action after proper verification of the allegation,” the SP said.
When asked if everything is under control why the state government did not allow BJP leader Kapil Mishra from New Delhi to visit Barhi, he gave a strategic reply.
“Though it is the prerogative of the state government to permit anyone to visit the state on the basis of inputs from the Special Branch, I do not see any sense in visiting any leader from outside the state. We have never stopped any state leader belonging to any political party to visit the residence of Pandey. Even BJP legislature party chief Babulal Marandi visited there. When all are taking care, I do not see any sense in the visit of any leader from outside the state,” Ratan said.
