Bakrid was celebrated peacefully across the State barring minor skirmishes at a few public places, including Pakur on Wednesday. Prayers were offered at the mosques amidst elaborate security arrangement.
In Pakur district police party was attacked by local mob while it carried out a raid in the Dangapada village located about half a kilometer away from the Maheshpur Police Station area. Police had gone to the spot following a tip off on use of prohibited meat. Around half a dozen policemen were injured in the incident.
The Pakur SP Shailendra Barnwal, sub-divisional officer and a large number of police personnel reached the spot and dispersed the mob using tear gas shells. The police have sent the prohibited meat samples for examination.
large number of police personnel was camping at the site till evening. “Senior police officers including the DIG and the SP are keeping watch over the situation. The situation is under control now,” said the Additional Director General (Operations) RK Mallick.
State Police Spokesperson cum IG (Operations) Asis Batra said that additional forces including rapid action force, rapid action police and DSPs have been sent to the spot. He added that efforts were on to restore normalcy in the area.
Meanwhile, in Garhwa, residents of Tikuldiha village under Meral Police Station took a police party hostage for about three hours on Wednesday. Police arrived at the place after getting some tip off about killing of prohibited animals.
Police searched some houses and angered by the search, a group of people created a ruckus. They alleged on police for unnecessarily harassing them. After this there was a tense situation in the village. The agitated people stopped the policemen in the village.
People were stuck on the demand of calling the senior officers. After getting the information, DSP headquarters Sandeep Kumar Gupta, CO Rakesh Sahay, police in-charge Gupteeshwar Tiwari and police inspector Sandeep Kumar reached there. The authorities solved the issue and freed the police team. CO Rakesh Sahay told that matter was solved and situation was under control.
In rest parts of the State Bakrid was celebrated with fervor. In the State Capital thousands of devotees offered prayers at Main Road, Harmu Idgah, Doranda Idgah and other places of the city. After the prayer people hugged and congratulated each other on the occasion.
The administration had posted police force at 90 places in view of the tension between two communities over throwing of prohibited meat. Source said special watch was being kept on rumours that could cause social tension with the official being asked to counter them at the very beginning.