3 killed after Bihar police opens fire on protesters up in arms against power outage in Katihar

There was a clash between the protesters and the police following which the cops allegedly opened fire. The people had assembled in Barsoi block office to protest against the erratic power supply in the district.

Katihar: Three people died after police allegedly opened fire on those protesting against disruption in electricity supply in Katihar district of Bihar on Wednesday.

According to the inputs received, there was a clash between the protesters and the police following which the cops allegedly opened fire. The people had assembled in Barsoi block office to protest against the erratic power supply in the district. While one person died on the spot, two others succumbed in the hospital during treatment.

Katihar's Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar has, however, confirmed only one death so far. "One person has died in this incident, while two people are seriously injured. Both are undergoing treatment in the hospital. Police is currently camping at the spot. Law and order is under control. An inquiry has been ordered into the entire matter," the SP said.

The protesters, according to sources, allegedly pelted stones at the police officials after which the latter opened fire. Two of the three persons who were shot have been identified as Mohammad Khurshid (35), a resident of Basal village, and Niyaz Alam (32) of Chapakhod Panchayat. Villagers say that many other people were also injured in the lathi charge.

Local villagers say that around 3 pm on Wednesday, they had gone to protest against the erratic power supply in the area. "We were protesting peacefully when the police opened fire at us," claimed one of the protesters. He alleged that five people were shot, out of which three died. The power supply, as per local inputs, was disrupted from 5 am to 11 am due to maintenance work.

Enraged by this, people blocked the main road near Bastoul Chowk and Barsoi block headquarters of Pranpur. Following the deaths, there is an atmosphere of tension in the area. Heavy deployment of forces has been made in the area to maintain law and order.

Reacting to the incident, Union MoS Nityanand Rai said: "The two politicians in the Bihar government, CM Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav have no kindness or pity left. This is the govt of atrocities. The govt has become insensitive...According to the locals in Katihar, 2-3 people have died...This is a govt of criminals...The entire state is in fear."