Irate mob assaults youth in police custody, ASI suspended

Hajipur, Feb 23 (UNI) An irate mob, enraged over the killing of a youth at Pokhra Mohalla under Town police station in Vaishali district, today assaulted the alleged killer and injured him seriously, after forcibly taking him away from the police custody.

Official sources said Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) S N Ram was suspended while dismissal proceedings were initiated against four Home Guard jawans for dereliction of their duties.

District Superintendent of Police Parasnath told UNI that one Ravi Kumar, who had allegedly killed his friend Om Prakash following minor dispute over possession of a mobile phone this morning, was arrested and sent to Sadar Hospital as the killer had sustained injuries earlier when a group of angry people had beaten him up after the incident.

''As Ravi was undergoing treatment at Sadar Hospital under security cover of policemen, a group of people forcibly took him away from the police custody and beat him severely, inflicting serious injuries on the alleged killer,'' Mr Parasnath said, adding that he had been sent to Patna Medical College and Hospital for further treatment.

Mr Parasnath said ASI S N Ram was suspended while dismissal proceedings were initiated against four Home Guard jawans, deputed to provide security cover to the killer, who was undergoing treatment at the local hospital.

Incidentally, it was the third instance of lynching by an irate mob, challenging the authority of the law-enforcing machinery in Vaishali district.

Earlier, a youth was lynched for his alleged involvement in a theft case at Sahadullapur village under Lalganj police station in the district on February 16.

Besides, as many as 10 people were lynched by a violent mob at Dhelphorwa village under Rajpakar police station in the district on September 13, 2007.

The incident had prompted the Bihar government to announce a series of measures to check the growing trend of lynching by the people who took the law of the land into their hands.

UNI XC-KKS DPM SK RN1642