Protests over PDS: Cops fire in Bihar, 2 dead

Two protesters were killed today when police opened fire on a mob demonstrating against alleged irregularities in distribution of ration coupons meant for below poverty line...

Two protesters were killed today when police opened fire on a mob demonstrating against alleged irregularities in distribution of ration coupons meant for below poverty line BPL families in Matihani, Begusarai district.

Bihar recently replaced ration cards with coupons, which poor families could exchange for grain and kerosene at any fair-price shop. This was meant to prevent fair-price shops from turning people away and diverting stocks to the open market for profit. The shops were to get stocks only against the coupons they submitted.

The idea is the brainchild of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and is to be replicated in other states.

However, there have been allegations that many well-off families had found place on the Bihar government8217;s new BPL list at the expense of really poor ones. Across the state, there have been several protests against the list.

In Matihani, a crowd of some 1,000 people had gathered at the block development office, where coupons were being distributed. Some of them started demonstrating, alleging that many genuinely poor families had been struck off the list. One Neelam Devi, who was leading the demonstration, was allegedly beaten up by police.

The mob then went on the rampage and started pelting stones. Police lathi-charged the mob, and then opened fire. Two men, identified as Diso Jha, 60, and Baleshwar Shahu, 55, were killed in the firing. Half a dozen others, including two women, were injured.

The crowd then damaged vehicles and set ablaze a part of the block development office. They blockaded the road and refused to let the bodies be taken away by the authorities.

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Director-General of Police Asish Ranjan Sinha said, 8220;We had to open fire to protect life and property.8221; He said it was yet to be determined how many rounds were fired.

The Bihar Government has announced a judicial inquiry into the firing. It said will make a statement in the Assembly tomorrow, while the Opposition said it will stage a protest. Leader of the Opposition Rabri Devi said the government was anti-poor and demanded compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the dead, besides government jobs for their kin.

The Opposition had demanded that the BPL list be scrapped, but Kumar had refused. He held the previous RJD government responsible for the discrepancies.