CPM MLA survives ‘murderous’ attack

PATNA: CPM’s state legislature party leader and Bibhutipur MLA Ajay Kumar survived a “murderous” attack on him at the party office in Samastipur town late on Saturday night. However, the MLA’s bodyguard, Anil Ram, was injured in the attack.

Samastipur SP Manavjit Singh Dhillon said an FIR was lodged against three people, including Rahul Yadav (32) and Mohammad Monazir (37), and 24 unknown people in connection with the attack. “Rahul and Monazir were arrested on Sunday. Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident was the fallout of a road rage case,” the SP said.

Dhillon said Rahul’s wife had died a few days back and her ‘shraadh’ rituals were performed on Saturday. “Rahul’s brother-in-law had gone to the market in a car for some work. His seven-year-old son was also accompanying him. The MLA’s SUV was parked on the road in front of the CPM office. Rahul’s brother-in-law honked several times and requested the MLA’s men to clear the road. The two sides later entered into an altercation,” the SP said.

He added Rahul’s maternal aunt, Soni Devi, has lodged a counter FIR against the MLA’s bodyguard and driver, alleging that they thrashed the child and Rahul’s brother-in-law.

SHO (incharge) of Samastipur Town police station Sunil Kumar said the polve have started an investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, CPI and CPM supporters blocked Patel Chowk in Samastipur on Sunday for more than two hours to protest against the incident.

CPI state secretary Ram Naresh Pandey has condemned the attack, saying law and order has collapsed in the state.

This is the second attack on the MLA in a month. On May 2, he had lodged an FIR with Ujiyarpur police station in Samastipur against two persons, accusing them of trying to attack him after intercepting his SUV in Jogipur.