A ruling party leader and member of Bihar’s Legislative Council displayed his might in full public view today. MLC Aslam Azad and his men “abducted” two youths after their motorcycle collided with his car. Azad is also a professor at the Patna University.According to eyewitness Manuant Choudhary, the incident took place in front of Building Construction Minister Monazir Hassan’s official residence on Bailey Road. Dhiraj Kumar and Rahul Kumar were riding a motorcycle which accidentally collided with the MLC’s car emerging out of the minister’s residence.The two were abused and bashed up by the MLC and his men, and as a crowd gathered, the two were forced into the politician’s car, which sped away immediately. Before that, however, a red beacon light was fished out of the car, a Maruti 800, and planted on it.Chowdhury, a former journalist, informed his friends in the media and they gathered at the incident site. Police, too, reached the spot. Approached by reporters, Monazir Hassan admitted that the MLC’s car had left at that time but feigned ignorance about the incident. When Azad was called up on his mobile, his aide said the two had been taken away to realise repair costs. Police, later, brought the two to the Kotwali police station. Refusing to lodge a complaint, the two pleaded that they had to hurry home for a ceremony. “They took us to a garage where the damage was assessed at Rs 2,800. We paid the amount,” said Rahul Kumar, while Dhiraj pleaded, “We don’t want to lodge a complaint. Please leave us alone.”Police said it was a small road accident. “How can we take action when there is no complaint,” said DSP (Law and Order) Amar Singh. Azad could not be contacted. His men said the MLC was busy with the birth anniversary celebrations of late socialist leader Karpoori Thakur.
