Task force to probe Bihar massacre

By Our Special Correspondent

PATNA, JUNE 13.The Bihar Government today set up a task force to inquire into the causes that led to the massacre of 13 members of a Bhumihar family at Afsar village in Nawada district on Monday. It has also instituted departmental proceedings against the DSP, Mr. P.K. Mandal, for his alleged role in the crime.

The Government withdrew the DSP from Nawada following complaints from the local people regarding his role in the massacre.

The task force is headed by the Range IG, Mr. Neelmani, who will be assisted by a team of six DSPs. It has been vested with the responsibility of putting an end to the gangwar raging in the district. Six companies of Paramilitary forces have been deployed.

Meanwhile, the toll in the massacre rose to 13 with the death of two of the injured. All the bodies were cremated today. Only last evening, the villagers agreed to allow the police to conduct the post-mortem at the village.

In all, 30 persons, including the alleged criminal Ashok Mahto, have been named in the FIR. The police have, so far, nabbed only one of them, Mathura Yadav, who is under interrogation.

The DGP, Mr. K. A. Jacob, has gone to the village for the second time today to oversee follow-up action. He was accompanied by the State Minister, Mr. Aditya Singh, who will distribute the compensation to the families of the victims.

The Chief Minister, Ms. Rabri Devi, has ordered a compensation of Rs. 1.2 lakh and employment to the kith and kin of the bereaved families.

The BPCC(I) president, Mr. Chandan Bagchi, who held a condolence meeting at the village, demanded an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakhs.

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