Araria DM, SP prevent a major flare up

Riches Anand

Araria :  The timely intervention by Araria DM Himanshu Sharma prevented the situation from taking an ugly turn in Araria Ton after an objectionable material was found loaded on an auto near the Bus stand National Highway (NH) on September 2, 2017, evening. Hearing about it, the Araria DM and Araria SP reached the spot and seized the auto and arrested three persons and pacified the crowd, which dispersed. But, within few minutes more than a thousand persons of a community took out a procession on the main road and started forcing the traders close their shops.

The DM and SP again reached the spot with force. The crowd started pelting the cops with stones in which two constables were injured and the windscreen of the official car of Araria  SP was broken. The DM,  risking his safety, started pacifying the angry crowd, which gathered around him. But, the mob remained  intransigent. Seing the situation getting out of contro, the DM immediately enforced prohibitory order in the town and police resorted to lathicharge to disserse the crowd. Soon the main thoroughfares of Araria town saw movement of armed SSB and police jawans. Police also conducted raids at different places on the basis of video footage of the crowd movement and arrested more than two dozen persons on September 2 evening.

Range DIG, Purnia, Divisional Commissioner, Purnia, camping at Araria since September 2 evening. Araria DM called the meeting of all the political parties and religious leader of both communities and after interactions with them at his chamber. On his request, they moved on the main roads and streets of Araria town appealing for peace which evoked very good response from the people and peace was restored in the town.

Darbhanga Zone IG  Umashankar Sudhansu said that although the situation appears to be fully under control with no report of any untoward incident, he has ordered for intensive police patrolling in the Town and elsewhere until further order.  The IG  is camping here and monitoring the situation.

Some objectionable items were also thrown on the campus of Aanganwadi at Jokihat the same evening but the Araria SDPO K D Singh soon reached there with 40 police jawans and brought the situation under control.

Two FIRs have lodged with Araria police in connection with September 2 incident and 29 persons have been arrested by police. Another FIR. has been lodged with Jokihat Police Station. Araria DM Sharma has categorically asked police to arrest only those responsible for disturbing peace in the area. An uneasy calm prevails in the town and all the police stations of the district have been put on high alert.