Tension continues at Itahara village in Saharsa, police stage flag march

B N  Singh Pappan

Saharsa : The situation continues to be tense at village Itahara and adjoining areas in the wake of murder of a labourer Mohd Kari on March 25, 2017, morning and subsequent lynching to death of the assailants Vikas Kumar by the labourers the same day at the village under Saur Bazaar block in Saharsa district. Police on March 26 staged flag march under SDPO Subodh Kumar Biswas at Itahara and adjoining villages. A meeting of peace committee was held on the premises of Baijnahpur police outpost and Saur Bazaar police station. The peace committee urged the people to maintain peace and harmony in the areas. Kari was shot dead.

Saharsa DM Vinod Singh Gunjiyal also held a meeting of district level peace committee on March 26. It was attended by SP Ashwini Kumar, SDPO Biswash, SDO Saurab Jaudwal, representatives of political parties and SHOs of some police stations. Meanwhile, kin of both Mohd Kari and Vikas Kumar lodged separate FIR with police in connection with the incident. Vikas Kumar was son of Arun Yadav of village Gamharia. Ashish Kumar, brother of  slain Vikas, has lodged FIR making 12 persons as named accused. Ashish, in his FIR, has claimed that his brother was called by two residents of Itahara : Subodh Yadav and Bhavesh, for panchayat purpose. He alleged that Vikas was attacked by accused there.

Itahara resident Mohd Islam, uncle of slain Mohd Kari, in his FIR, has made Vikas, Saurabh Yadav and Arjun Yadav, named accused. Kari, a labourer, was engaged in road construction work undertaken by Gamharia panchayat. Mohd Islam, in the FIR, alleged that Vikas had demanded a huge `Rangdari’ ( extortion) for allowing construction of road at Itahara two days before the twin murder. Mohd Islam alleged that on March 25, Vikas reached Itahara with his two associates and allegedly again demanded Ragdari. When he objected to it, Vikas fired at him but the bullet hit his nephew Kari, who died on the spot.