Bihar: Cops sent to raze illegal temple attacked

Local RJD leader S K Nirala, who reportedly built the Basudev temple that blocks a road, has been arrested.

Bihar’s Hajipur town was tense on Tuesday evening after a crowd attacked a police party that had gone to demolish an illegally constructed temple in the Bagmali area here, officers said. More than 10 personnel sustained minor injuries after the mob pelted them with stones. A police jeep was set on fire.

Local RJD leader S K Nirala, who reportedly built the Basudev temple that blocks a road, has been arrested. However, Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, who too belongs to the RJD, defended the police action, saying they were complying with a court order which is part of their job.

Bagmali falls under the Town police station of Hajipur, in Vaishali district. The police station in-charge, G S Jha,was shifted to police lines after the incident.

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According to the police, the incident took place around 9 pm on Tuesday, when a police team accompanied a district administration unit to demolish the unauthorised temple. Over 100 residents gathered at the spot and protested against the administration’s move. The mob torched the vehicle of a senior police officer and a tractor. With public resentment growing, the police had to leave the spot, officers said.

The Patna High Court, which had ordered the Vaishali administration to raze the temple by January 25, on Wednesday extended the deadline to February 25 after it was apprised of the law and order problems in executing the order. Vaishali SP Rakesh Kumar said: “We are trying to engage with the community and convince them to obey the court’s order.”

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