A bomb exploded near the Hajat in Ara civil court on Friday in which a young cop Amit and a woman, who was carrying the bomb, were killed. The explosion created panic and in the melee two prisoners, including a hardcore criminal, who had been brought for deposition in the court, managed to escape. About 17 people were wounded in then explosion of which one is stated to be critical.
The incident occurred when the prisoners were being brought in the hajat before their deposition. A woman was seen moving suspiciously towards the hajat and the policemen Amit tried to stop her. Suddenly there was a big explosion killing both on the spot. The identity of the woman could not be established. A mobile phone was recovered from her possession. The deceased cop Amit had been married only a few months back. The police suspect it was a high powered crude bomb.
Two prisoners Nandu Sharma and Akhilesh Upadhyaya taking advantage of the panic escaped. Sharma is a notorious criminal and has been convicted for life. The police suspect that the bomb was exploded to help him escape. In July 2009 a similar incident had taken place in the same civil court when bomb was exploded by a person in bid to help Sharma escape. In that incident five years ago Sharma could not escape and the person who exploded the bomb had been arrested but a lawyer Vinay Tiwari was killed.
A lawyer Jayant Kumar Singh, who was eye witness to Friday's explosion, said when he was moving towards the court explosion took place. “I realized immediately that similar explosion was made over five years back to help free the prisoners. We had been demanding for enough security in the court premises and installation of metal detectors.
ADG (Headquarters) Gupteshwar Pandey said, “It is strongly suspected that the woman was carrying bomb and it exploded suddenly.” He said security in the courts across the state has been strengthened. Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi who was in Gaya, said administrative lapses could be reason for this serious incident. Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh called an emergency meeting after the incident and directed for strengthening security particularly in view of the Republic Day.
Former Union Home Secretary and Ara BJP MP R K Singh said it did not seem to be a terrorist attack. “The explosion was aimed at helping some prisoners to escape and two prisoners managed to escape. It seems this explosion happened pre mature.”