Bihar awaiting inquiry report into Forbesganj firing: Nitish

Patna, Jun 20: Undeterred by his government being under attack from the Opposition, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today (Jun 20) said the state government had already ordered a judicial probe into the Forbesganj firing and only the inquiry report could reveal what had happened and how did it happen.

"In a democratic set-up, everybody is free to speak what he deems fit... but the facts remain that the state government has ordered a judicial probe into the incident which alone can unravel what happened, why did it happen", Kumar told reporters.

He said the state government had approached Chief Justice of Patna High Court to appoint a sitting judge for the probe as the strength of the judges in the court had risen to 39.

"We should wait for the inquiry report... we will swiftly act on the basis of the report", he said adding before completion of the judicial probe, saying something about the incident would amount to influence the probe.

There were several institutions which have sought report on the incident and "if we give any report these institutions it will also lead to influencing the course of inquiry", Kumar said.

He hoped that the judicial probe would soon begin and the government would receive the inquiry report shortly.

Attacking the Nitish Kumar government for the firing, opposition RJD, LJP and Congress have demanded a CBI inquiry into the Forbesganj firing.

Four persons were killed and 30 others injured in police firing and clash between police and locals protesting against construction of a starch factory and approach road at Forbesganj in Araria district on June 3.

PTI