Bihar: Durga Puja Immersion Takes Violent Turn in Begusarai; Bricks Thrown, Unrest Forces Police Intervention

BEGUSARAI – Today, during the idol immersion in Begusarai, Bihar, there was a ruckus due to bricks being thrown from the roof at the procession. In view of the tension spread in the area after this incident, a large number of police forces have been deployed.

According to the officials, this incident took place near Chhoti Ballia Misikar Tola of Ballia Nagar area. It is alleged that during the immersion of the Durga idol, a woman from a community had dropped four to five bricks from the roof in front of the idol.

After this, the atmosphere became tense. The youth involved in the immersion protested against the dropping of bricks. People also protested by setting fire on the road. As soon as information about the incident was received, SDO Rohit Kumar, DSP Vinay Kumar Rai, Police Station Head Surendra Kumar Singh arrived.

Along with them, City Executive Officer Santosh Kumar, CO Chandan Kumar, BDO Sunny Kumar also reached the spot and tried to control the crowd amid security arrangements. However, the protesting people did not agree to the explanation, and the uproar increased.

After receiving information about the increasing uproar, Begusarai DM Roshan Kushwaha and SP Yogendra Kumar reached with heavy police force. They also appealed to the people to step back. After this, when people did not move away, there was a heavy lathi charge.

The police dispersed the crowd with a lathi charge. After that, mischievous elements threw the vegetables of retail vegetable shopkeepers here and there in Ballia market. They started protesting by setting fire on the road.

Police chased away the miscreants, due to which there was a ruckus. All the vegetable shopkeepers moved away from the spot. The police reached there also and chased away the mischievous elements. 

It is alleged that four to five bricks were dropped from a roof in front of the idol. This created a tense atmosphere, yet the committee members somehow took out the idol of Badi Durga Sthan and the idol of Shitala Mata Durga Sthan.

But when the Durga idol started coming out of the station premises, a brick was thrown on it too. After this, the atmosphere worsened further. Seeing the terrible atmosphere, shops in Chhoti Ballia Market, Station Chowk, Station Road, Satti Chowda, Lakhminiyan, all the markets were closed.

Current situation and unannounced curfew:

The police are marching on foot in the area. The situation is tense but under control.  

An unannounced curfew is imposed in Ballia city. Everyone is ‘imprisoned’ in their homes. The police are chasing people away as soon as they see them. DM and SP are camping with the police force. Police from many police stations have also arrived.  

Statement from SP Yogendra Kumar:

SP Yogendra Kumar said that the situation in Ballia is now normal. DM, SDM, SDPO are camping with the police. A police force has been deployed. 10 people who created trouble have been taken into custody. In order to investigate the matter, we are examining the CCTV camera footage. 

He told that during the procession, a youth named Amit Rastogi had removed the flag from the electric pole. After this, stones were thrown from one side, and then the other side created a disturbance. A team has been formed under the leadership of SDPO Ballia to arrest the youth who brought down the flag. Raids are being conducted. Two police personnel have been slightly injured in the incident.