Nitish takes action against Vaishali DM, SP

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

The Chief Minister took action against the officials as they failed to ensure proper cremation of bodies of those lynched by a mob in Dhelporwa village. Their bodies were found lying on the Konhara ghat.

''The district administration had been entrusted with the responsibility of proper cremation of the victims' bodies. However, some of the bodies were found on the Konhara ghat, which is a serious dereliction of 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 Anupama 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 to discuss the issue and took stock of the situation.

Mr Paras Nath was appointed the new SP, while Ms Pratima Verma has taken charge as the District Magistrate.

A report from Hajipur, quoting official sources, had confirmed 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.

Ten people were lynched by angry villagers at Dehlporwa village under Rajapakar police station area of Vaishali district on September 13 for their alleged involvement in a robbery.

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

UNI