No FIR against scamsters but Bihar books fathers of two shot in relief riots

Not a single FIR has been filed against any official or contractor involved in the Bihar flood scam though it’s been a week since The I...

Not a single FIR has been filed against any official or contractor involved in the Bihar flood scam though it’s been a week since The Indian Express first reported that at least Rs 17.45 crore, meant for flood relief last year, was siphoned off from the Patna District Magistrate’s account.

But in Darbhanga, where police used bullets to quell the fight for flood relief last year, the state has moved quickly: 61 persons have been charged with rioting, including two men who have had no time to grieve for sons felled by police bullets.

Digambar Kanti’s son Babloo, 16, and Upinder Kanti’s son Shyam Sunder, 22, were killed when police fired on people clamouring for relief on August 16, 2004. Seven others were injured in the firing.

The Kantis have now landed in Patna to join a protest against inadequate relief work. The protests are still on because the floods changed lives forever, money meant for relief was siphoned off and misery multiplied manifold in homes across affected districts.

‘‘Whatever supplies reached Ujam, our village, was sold in the local market by the Mukhiya with active connivance of officials. When officials refused to listen to our complaints, the entire village collected and blocked road and rail on August 16,’’ recalls Digambar.

Around 5 pm that day, says Digambar, SHOs from three police stations and officials landed there. ‘‘No questions were asked, the police began firing. When people ran, my son was left behind. He was caught by the police who shot him behind his ear,’’ weeps the man as he shows you a photograph of his son’s body.

Upinder says his son Shyam Sunder was not even part of the protest. ‘‘He had gone to a PCO to make a call to Mumbai. He wanted to inform his employers that he was stuck here and would rejoin work a little late. But the police shot him dead.’’

Police also opened fire in Patepur in Vaishali district, killing a 12-year-old. Riots over relief also took place in Hasa in Samastipur and Bajitpur in Darbhanga.