Saharsa: A man in Bihar’s Sonbarsa Nagar Panchayat area has alleged that he was summoned, abused and assaulted after posting on Facebook about poor sanitation in his neighbourhood, triggering a police investigation and renewed scrutiny of political intimidation over social media criticism.
The complainant, Shubham Kumar, has filed a case at the SC/ST police station, accusing the local body’s chairman, Manish Kumar, and nine others of luring him from his home and subjecting him to a violent assault.
According to the complaint, Shubham Kumar had posted photographs and comments on Facebook highlighting filth in the area, hoping civic authorities would act. Instead, he alleges, the chairman sent several men to his house, telling him he was being urgently summoned.
Trusting them, the complainant said he went along, only to be taken to the chairman’s residence. There, he alleges, he was verbally abused and threatened for posting “against” the chairman on social media before being ordered to be beaten.
In his statement, Shubham Kumar claimed he was assaulted with sticks and rods, his clothes torn, and that the attackers continued to beat him despite repeated pleas to be released. He further alleged that he was humiliated and threatened with more serious consequences if he reported the incident to police.
After being released, the complainant sought treatment at a primary health centre and was later referred to Saharsa for further medical care, police said.
Officers confirmed that a first information report (FIR) has been registered and that an investigation is under way. “All allegations are being examined and statements recorded,” a police official said, adding that appropriate legal action would follow based on the evidence.
