PATNA: The detention of two entrepreneurs in Patna for over six hours by the police for asking questions of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a public event has sparked protests from various quarters, resulting in the suspension of two policemen on Friday.
The two entrepreneurs — Nemi Kumar of Madhubani and Suresh Kumar Sharma of Begusarai — were picked up by the police from an entrepreneurship summit attended by Nitish Kumar on Tuesday.
Nemi Kumar, who had submitted four start-up ideas to the government, questioned the CM about the lack of transparency in choosing ideas. Sharma raised the issue of harassment he had faced by bank officials for a loan taken to produce machines to make flattened and puffed rice.
While the CM, though slightly annoyed on being asked questions by delegates during his speech, said he wanted to meet the two men. Later, Nitish Kumar had a brief chat with the two entrepreneurs, but soon after he left the venue, policemen picked up the duo.
“After finding that detaining the two entrepreneurs at a police station for a background check was wholly unnecessary, we have placed under suspension sub-inspector Dilip Chauhan and constable Shambhu Sharan Paswan, posted at Gandhi Maidan police station,” said Patna SSP Manu Maharaj. He said showcause notices were issued to DSP (town) Kailash Prasad and Gandhi Maidan SHO Priyaranjan Kumar.