Assault, arrest of fisherman by SHO triggers strong protest in Gopalganj

Alok Mishra

Gopalganj: Agitated over the merciless assault of a fisherman allegedly by Jadopur police station SHO Rakesh Mohan, a large number of people laid siege to the police station, raised slogans against the policemen and blocked the main road and burnt tyres near the police station on January 18.

On getting information, Inspector (Rural) Nigam Kumar Verma, Town police station SHO Baleshwar Rai and Thawe police station SHO Praveen Kumar reached the spot with reinforcement and pacified the agitating people. The villagers relented late in the evening only after assurance was given to lodge an FIR in this connection.

Locals said that one Ramprit Sah (55), a native of village Bagaha under Jadopur police station in Gopalganj district, had purchased fishes from the pond of a former mukhiya of Vishunpur Aditya Shankar Sahi around 8 am and had reached Jadopur Chouraha to sell the fishes. They said that Jadopur police station SHO Rakesh Mohan along with a constable reached there and purchased 5 kg fish. When Ramprit asked for Rs 750 for the fish, the SHO asked him to come to the police station for cutting the fishes, they alleged adding when Ramprit refused to visit the poilice station,  the SHO arrested him and took him to police station.

The locals alleged that not only the cops snatched Rs 9,500 from Ramprit, they including the SHO assaulted him mercilessly at the police station. An injurted Ramprit was admitted to Gopalganj Sadar Hospital.As the news of the assault spread in the locality, a large number of people assembled at the police station while some of them brought injured Ramprit there and started raising slogans against the cops.Though the local SHO tried to suppress the matter,  senior police officials reached the spot. Inspector (Rural) Nigam Kumar Verma outrightly rejected peoples’ allegations and said that Ramprit sustained injuries after he fell from cycle.