Bihar: Muslim cleric beaten up in police custody; Tejashwi slams Nitish Kumar's government
Madhubani/Patna (PTI): Five policemen have been suspended in Bihar's Madhubani district for allegedly beating up an Imam in custody, a senior official said.
According to Yogendra Kumar, the Superintendent of Police of Madhubani, those who have been placed under suspension include the SHO of Benipatti Police Station, a havildar, a constable and two chowkidars.
"The complainant Mohd Firoz had alleged that he was beaten up by police on January 29. On inquiry, no physical torture has come to light while he was kept at the police station for trying to speed away upon being asked to show the papers of his motorcycle", said the SP.
"Nonetheless, lapses have been found" on the part of the police personnel, which necessitated departmental action, he said, adding that Firoz had sustained minor injuries after his two-wheeler skidded.
"Use of force by the police while catching hold of him cannot be ruled out," the SP said.
"Moreover, the police personnel concerned failed to get him medically examined, as mandated under such circumstances. His family members were informed after an inordinate delay. So, these policemen have been placed under suspension. A trainee IPS, who was given the charge of Benipatti police station, has also been shifted", the SP said.
Firoz, who was let off after family members came to the police station carrying the papers, which were found to be in order, had described his ordeal to journalists, a video clip of which has gone viral on social media.
"They pulled at my hair and my beard. Slaps were rained on me and they hit me with a wooden stick so many times that it snapped. They asked me if I were a thief, and when I said no sir, I have been serving at the local mosque, they retorted - so you seek the benediction of God? We are going to teach you a lesson. I was let off not before parting with Rs 25,000. I feel scared. I wonder what type of country I am living in," a tearful Firoz can be seen alleging in the video.
The SP, however, asserted that Firoz was "released on a PR bond".
Meanwhile, in Patna, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the incident smacked of "hostility towards Muslims harboured by the Nitish Kumar government in the state in which the BJP is a partner".
"The chief minister is no longer in his senses. So many Lok Sabha seats and assembly segments in that area are held by his JD(U), but the MPs and MLAs have become like BJP cadre," alleged the former Deputy CM.
"I am going to Benipatti to express my solidarity with the minority brothers. I must caution the police that if they think they can get away with blatant display of hate towards Muslims, we know how to deal with it," said the young leader of the opposition.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
