Nitish takes action against DM and SP of Vaishali

Patna, Sep 16 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today transferred the Vaishali District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police and suspended the district welfare officer and the Hajipur town police station officer-incharge for dereliction of duties.

The Chief Minister took action against the officials in connection with cremation of the bodies of those lynched by Dhelporwa villagers. The bodies were found lying on the Konhara ghat and their last rites were not performed.

He said the district administration had been entrusted with the responsibility of proper cremation.

However, some of the bodies were found on the Konhara ghat which was a serious dereliction in duty on the part of the administration, he said.

'' In the wake of the gross negligence on the part of the district administration, DM Lalan Singh and SP Anupma Nilekar have been transferred, while District Welfare Officer Sarvesh Bahadur and Officer-incharge of Hajipur town police station have been suspended, '' Mr Kumar said.

He also summoned the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Home Secretary and personnel secretary on the issue and took stock of the situation.

Mr Paras Nath was appointed the new SP, while Ms Pratima Verma was given the office of the DM.

A report from Hajipur, quoting official sources, had admitted that the bodies of all the ten victims were thrown in river Ganga after post-mortem and their last rites were not performed.

Some of the bodies were found stuck in the bushes near the Konhara ghat, the report added.

Earlier, the ten people were lynched by the villagers at Dehlporwa village under Rajapakar police station area of Vaishali district on Septermer 13 for alleged robbery.

The government had instituted a high level probe into the lynching incident.

UNI