WATCH: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar attacked by man at his hometown

Patna, Mar 27: In a major security breach, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was attacked by a man during a public programme at his hometown, Bakhtiyarpur on Sunday. The man, who was caught on camera during the attack, has been arrested and currently in police custody.

The incident took place when the chief minister, who has spent his early childhood in Bakhtiyarpur, was paying floral tributes to the statue of a freedom fighter from the area.

CCTV footage shows the assailant, in his late 20s or early 30s, coming from behind and landing a blow on the septuagenarian's face.

Clad in a T-shirt and trousers, the assailant is soon overpowered by the chief minister's security staff who quickly hand him over to the police.

Another footage shows the alleged assailant being dragged away by the policemen who mutter under their breath "paagal hai" (he is crazy).

The chief minister can be seen, in the footage, directing the security men to restrain themselves and quietly find out what was the matter with the assailant, who was many decades his junior.

Reportedly, Nitish Kumar asked the officers not to take any action on the boy who attacked him. CM also asked officials to look into the complaints made by the boy

"During inquiry, it has been found that Shankar Verma is deranged. He has attempted suicide twice, by jumping off the roof of a double-storied building and attempting to hang himself from the ceiling of his room. His mental instability has taken a toll on his marriage. His wife lives separately along with their children", the administration said in its statement.

Nonetheless, the administration added, there were instructions from the chief minister that "no punitive action be taken and the attacker be provided all necessary medical support".

Meanwhile, the political fraternity, especially members of the ruling NDA, were outraged over the attack on the septuagenarian, who is the state's longest-serving chief minister. Statements of condemnation came from ministers in his cabinet, members of his JD(U) as also alliance partners like the BJP and ex-CM Jitan Ram Manjhi.