Sasaram communal tensions: Accused persons arrested on basis of sufficient evidence, Bihar minister Sunil Kumar says

PATNA: While the opposition BJP is protesting the recent arrest of its five-time former MLA Jawahar Prasad in connection with communal disturbances at Sasaram during the Ram Navami procession, state’s prohibition, excise and registration minister Sunil Kumar on Wednesday asserted that the accused persons in Sasaram incident were arrested only after sufficient evidence was found against them during the administrative investigation.
Responding to media queries at the JD(U) state office here, Sunil, a former IPS officer who served in various capacities in the state police before joining politics after retiring from the rank of DGP in 2020, also said that administration was taking lawful actions against all those persons who tried to disturb social harmony in Sasaram during Ram Navami processions.
Asked for his reaction to the BJP’s allegations that its leaders were being framed, Sunil said, “Rule of law is prevailing in the state and lawful actions are being taken against the people who were found involved in unlawful activities during the investigation. It is very unfortunate that the BJP was trying to give political colour to the administration’s right action”.
Police on Friday arrested former MLA Jawahar Prasad in connection with the case related to communal disturbances that took place in Sasaram on March 31. The Rohtas district police have arrested altogether 67 persons including Prasad and lodged four separate FIRs in connection with the disturbances.
The BJP state president Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday went to Sasaram and held a dharna to protest the arrest of the former MLA.
Addressing a press conference in Patna, JD(U) spokespersons Neeraj Kumar and Anzum Ara and party leader Santosh Kushwaha attacked the BJP state president for protesting the arrest of the former MLA, pointing out, “Jawahar Prasad was arrested after a local court issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest against him in connection with the communal disturbances during Ram Navami procession.”
JD(U) leaders also alleged that “Prasad is a ‘habitual offender’ and altogether seven criminal cases are registered against him in different police stations of Sasaram. Neeraj also said that most of the cases against the former MLA were registered when the BJP was in power in the state.
“Why were the BJP leaders silent when criminal cases were being lodged against Prasad when the saffron party was in power in the state?” Neeraj asked.