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Journalism of Courage
PATNA, Feb 14: While Governor Sundar Singh Bhandari promised to give top priority to law and order in Bihar, seven people were shot in Jehanabad and four burnt in Patna on Day Two of President’s rule in the state. As a nervous administration geared up to face the 12-hour Rashtriya Janata Dal-sponsored bandh tomorrow, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samata Party began fighting over their share of the Governor’s rule.
Reports reaching Patna reveal that a group of armed men attacked the cloth shop of Nawal Kishore Sharma, a Bhumihar and killed him along with six others. Among those who were killed, four belonged to the upper caste Bhumihar. According to local contacts, nearly 20 armed men sprayed bullets indiscriminately. All the seven were killed on the spot.
Reacting sharply to the incident ofburning of a Yadav family, RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister L.K. Advani and Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari. “They (BJP-Samata) were making a hue and cry at the Ranabir Sena assault on the rural poor. Why are they are silent when Yadavs are burnt? They should demand the dismissal of Bhandari,” he said.
According to the villagers, the family of Ram Singh had a fight with local moneylenders, who belong to the Rajputs and Kurmis. The villagers as well the police said that the murder was purely “money-related.”
Meanwhile in Patna, the fight over the spoils of Governor’s rule between the two allies began just 48 hours after the President’s rule was imposed in the state. Fearing that the BJP is playing the Big Bother and trying to make most of the Governor’s rule, Union Railways Minister and Samata Party leader Nitish Kumar today met the Governor with a suggestion to form an advisory council of the BJP-Samata to help him in running the Government.
Sources saythat the Samata Pary was irritated over the BJP’s interest in the posting of officials in key positions. Kumar told reporters that the government should not hurry about the transfers and postings. “The role of the Samata should not be neglected and its views must be obtained on such issues,” he said.
Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements have been made in view of tomorrow’s RJD-sponsored 12-hour bandh in protest against the imposition of President rule. State director general of police T.P. Sinha here said police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) had been deployed at vulnerable points to avert any untoward incident.
Prohibitory orders under section 144 Cr Pc had been clamped in all the towns and the district authorities directed to take all preventive measures, he said.
