Electricity stir turns deadly in Bihar’s Katihar; one dead, three injured in police firing | Patna News

PATNA: In Bihar’s Katihar district, a demonstration over the inadequate power supply took a tragic turn on Wednesday, resulting in the death of a 34-year-old man and leaving two others in critical condition.

The situation escalated as some protesters resorted to stone-pelting, prompting the police to respond with both firing and baton-charging, deputy SP of Barsoi sub-division, Prem Nath Ram said.
Katihar superintendent of police Jitendra Kumar said heavy deployment of forces had been made in the area to maintain law and order.

Leader of the opposition in the state assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha, who was in the district for a BJP programme, also rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.
Locals claimed that at least five people were hit by bullets at the protest site.
Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary severely criticised the Nitish government over the incident.

He said, “First jobs, and now the government is resorting to shooting those who simply demand electricity in Bihar. It’s unfortunate that the police, under the Nitish Kumar government, are using force against citizens peacefully protesting for their right to electricity, especially when the government boasts about providing a 24-hour power supply. A thorough judicial inquiry must be conducted to investigate this incident”.
“Bihar government has failed in every aspect. People were protesting over power cuts, but the police opened fire that led to the death of one person,” news agency PTI quoted former Bihar deputy Tarkishore Prasad as saying.
(With inputs from PTI)