Patna encounter: Misa Bharti demands probe as families protest in Maner
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Lok Sabha MP Misa Bharti on Friday, 6 November visited the Danapur Sub-divisional Hospital in Patna after three individuals were killed in a police encounter in the city's Maner area, demanding an impartial investigation and justice for the deceased's families. The incident has triggered sharp political contestation and protests at the hospital, with families accusing the police of staging a conspiracy.
What Misa Bharti Said
Misa Bharti, the RJD MP from Patliputra, met the grieving families and gathered details about the encounter. Targeting the state government, she said that while Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary claims to be committed to eradicating crime, the police are allegedly killing innocent people. Bharti demanded an impartial investigation, asserting that the truth must come out and justice must be ensured for the families of the deceased.
Families Allege Staged Encounter, Protests Turn Tense
Tension prevailed at the hospital on Friday as agitated family members staged a protest, accusing the police of a deliberate killing. The relatives smashed windows of several vehicles on the hospital premises while questioning the official version of events. They alleged that if the intention had been merely to apprehend the three men, officers could have shot them in the legs rather than fatally.
Police personnel attempted to pacify the crowd but were unsuccessful, eventually resorting to mild force to disperse the protesters and clear the premises. Ramashish Yadav, brother of one of the deceased, JP Yadav, condemned the police action, alleging his brother was killed in an unjustified operation and demanding an independent probe along with action against the personnel involved.
Police Version: Tip-Off, Gunfire, Criminal Records
Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma said the Bihar Special Task Force (STF) and Patna Police had been conducting special operations to curb criminal activities. Acting on a tip-off about a group of criminals allegedly planning a major crime, a joint team carried out an operation in the jurisdiction of Maner police station on 6 November.
According to the SSP, the suspects opened fire as the police team approached. One bullet reportedly grazed the uniform of the Maner Station House Officer (SHO). Police retaliated, injuring the three suspects, who were subsequently rushed to hospital and declared dead. Preliminary findings suggest the suspects fired more than 24 rounds at the police team, and weapons were recovered from the deceased. The SSP added that all three had criminal records and were allegedly involved in a murder in Maner on the day of Durga Ashtami this year.
Post-Mortem and Investigation Under Way
Patna City Superintendent of Police (Central) Chandra Prakash confirmed the bodies of the three deceased had been sent to AIIMS Patna for post-mortem examinations. He said action would be taken against those found responsible, and that the investigation is examining all aspects of the incident. The SSP noted that the post-mortem examinations would be conducted under full videographic recording to ensure transparency in the process.
This comes amid recurring national debate over alleged extrajudicial encounters by state police forces, with opposition parties frequently demanding independent inquiries into such incidents. All eyes are now on the AIIMS Patna post-mortem findings, which could either corroborate or challenge the official account.