Mob torches police post at Motihari

MOTIHARI: The Motihari police are fishing in troubled waters. And with Tun Tun Sah, the petty fish vendor allegedly killed by policemen on Monday night, missing till Wednesday, the cops only netted swelling public wrath.
Following the public brickbats and police firing at Chhatauni Chowk on Tuesday afternoon, the agitators gave a call for dawn to dusk Motihari bandh on Wednesday.This was met with announcements by the administration on Tuesday night that markets would remain open on Wednesday. This was backed by a promise of police support to ensure the peaceful opening of shops.
Meanwhile, Tun Tun Sah remained untraced on Wednesday which further incited public anger. A large crowd gathered around Meena Bazar, Gyan Babu Chowk, Johupul, Henry Bazar and Chhatauni. Police patrol parties were jeered at. Despite assurances by the administration, market areas east of Motijheel did no business.
Around 9 O’clock on Wednesday morning, the agitators turned violent. They attacked naka no 1, the police post near Meena Bazar. Furniture was taken out and the police post ransacked. The crowd even torched the place and dumped a gas cylinder in the fire. The explosion was loud, but the damage, fortunately, minimal. There were some incidents of brickbatting also. Soon, police vehicles stormed the streets. Sirens blared, gunmen in uniform stared, their fingers uneasy on the triggers. The town remains tense. Sadar SDO Behari Das and DSP Mahendra Prasad maintained vigil.
Meanwhile, the wife and mother of the missing Tun Tun Sah met DM S Seokumar along with prominent persons of the Chhatauni area.
“I have constituted a search party comprising of the missing Sah’s brother, one police officer and three magistrates,� the DM told TNN, adding, “we have also sanctioned an Indira Awas unit to the poor family which will also be helped with a loan to sustain its business�.
Till Tun Tun Sah is not found, Motihari will remain tense, observers said. The underlying issue, worrying most citizens, centres around the cause of alleged death. That the police are fishing in troubled waters can be gauged by popular public perception that the cops have become hounds on the kill, being fattened by naked extortion of a hapless citizenry.
“Policemen had demanded fish from Tun Tun Sah,� residents told TNN, adding, “He has lost his life for not complying with their extortion demand�.