Some over zealous policemen virtually poured cold waters on the Bihar Government’s start up projects for the young and rural entrepreneurs when they detained two such entrepreneurs for raising some genuine issues at the 4th Bihar Entrepreneurship Summit organised by Bihar Entrepreneurs’ Association (BEA) on Tuesday in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The Government ordered a probe in the incident.
The duo Nemi Kumar of Madhubani and Suresh Kumar Sharma of Begusarai were whisked away to Gandhi Maidan police station where they were kept for six hours and released after harassment during which they were not allowed to eat or drink water or even go to toilet and use their mobile phones.
Nemi and Suresh had raised issue of transparency in the acceptance or rejection of the proposals and their harassment by the banks in providing loans.
Nitish in his address referred to the issues raised by them. He directed the officials of industries department and BEA authorities to bring transparency and duly inform the applicants for the reasons of the rejection of their proposals. He even directed police personnel to ensure that they meet him before he leaves the venue. The police did the same and produced them before the CM when he was about to board his vehicle. He told them that their suggestions would be addressed to.
But what happened soon after was beyond their imagination when police bundled them in a police jeep and took the Gandhi Maidan police station.
Nemi said, “We were picked up at 2 pm and finally released at 8 pm. During this period we were not allowed to eat and even drink water. When we asked to go to toilet our requests fell on deaf ears. Our mobile phones were also seized.” He added, “It was a punishment for raising genuine issues.”
The SHO of the police station tiold them that they had been detained at the orders of the DSP (Town) Kailash Prasad and that he would come to question them. But when he did not turn up, the duo were asked to go. Prasad said, “They had been detained to gather some information.”
Industries Minister Jai Kumar Singh, who was present at the function, said he would seek report as to why the two entrepreneurs were taken to police station. “People are free to raise issues but I don’t understand why police took such action. It should not have happened.”
Prominent entrepreneur and chairman of Bihar chapter of PHD Chamber of Commerce Satyajit Singh was annoyed over the incident. He said, “The CM should take cognizance of this issue else it will send negative signals to the investor community.”