Islamic Council of India protesters storm police station in Bihar

Purnia (Bihar)

A mob ransacked the Baisi police station and torched several vehicles parked there during a protest against alleged blasphemous comments by a leader of a right-wing organization, police said today.

A local unit of a minority outfit – Islamic Council of India – led by former MLA Sayeed Ruknuddin had taken out a procession yesterday to protest against alleged derogatory remarks by one Kamlesh Tiwari, said to be a leader of an unknown right-wing outfit.

A section of protesters stormed into the Baisi police station, smashed furniture and other equipment and torched several vehicls parked there, they said.

An FIR was lodged against 500 unidentified people in connection with the mob violence, Purnia District Magistrate Pankaj Kumar Pal said.

Pal, who visited Baisi police station to review the situation, said that identification of those involved in the incident was being ascertained from video footage.

The district magistrate said that the law and order situation at Baisi police station and surrounding areas was under control even as a section of armed police has been deployed there as precautionary measure.

He said that Baisi Sub-Divisional Officer (SDPO) had been asked to probe the incident even as senior police officials were camping on the spot.

PTI