JD(U) MLA goes to Bihar govt hospital with revolver, triggers row

PATNA: Governing JD(U) MLA Narendra Kumar Niraj alias Gopal Mandal has courted a fresh controversy by brandishing a revolver at the Bihar government-run Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College and Hospital in Bhagalpur, where he visited with his granddaughter for a CT scan on Tuesday evening.

When one of the hospital employees questioned the Gopalpur MLA about the open display of the firearm, Mandal replied, “It is a thing that needs to be held in hand and not on the hip.”(Haath mein lekar nahi chalenge to kya kamar mein rakhenge).

Video clips showing Mandal carrying the revolver in his hand have gone viral on social media platforms.

Police on Wednesday said Mandal was carrying his licensed revolver and hence no action was initiated against him. “If anyone approaches the police about any unlawful activities of the said MLA, police will definitely act,” said a senior police officer on the condition of anonymity. The BJP demanded immediate arrest of the JD(U) lawmaker.