Manjhaul SDPO, bodyguards absconding

BEGUSARAI: Manjhaul sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Maheshwar Mahto went absconding on Wednesday evening following the issue of order for his arrest by Begusarai SP Kumar Rajesh Chandra in connection with case no 130/2002 lodged with Manjhaul police station, alleging him to be the prime accused in the cold-blooded murder of two innocent youths and injury to three others by firing indiscriminately on their vehicle on Monday evening in front of the Manjhaul police outpost.
According to reports, the SP has also ordered to arrest the two bodyguards of SDPO Mahto who also figure as accused in the murder case. Reports said that the bodyguards are also absconding after depositing their arms and ammunition in the police station.
The SDPO reportedly hired a private taxi and left for some unknown destination even as the SP issued his arrest order to investigating officer Ganesh Prasad, a probationer ASP.
When contacted, the SP on Thursday said that he ordered for the arrest of the accused policemen after getting post-mortem report of the deceased, conducted by a team of three doctors.
The SP further said that the post-mortem report supported the FIR lodged by one of the injured witnesses Biranjan Kumar, brother of the deceased Rajiv Ranjan Singh, son of the late ADM Kamta Prasad Singh of Manjhaul.
It is worth mentioning that the joint report of Begusarai DM K P Ramaiah and SP Kumar Rajesh Chandra, sent to state home commissioner soon after the incident, had held the SDPO responsible.
According to sources, the DM and the SP have also recommended for suspension and transfer of the SDPO.
The decision to lodge an FIR, with Manjhaul SDPO as the main accused, was taken by the DM and the SP following a stir by the local people of Manjhaul to suspend and arrest the prime accused.
Meanwhile, state BJP chief Nand Kishore Yadav has condemned police atrocities at Manjhaul and demanded immediate stern action against the accused policemen. He was here to attend a party programme.