PATNA: Senior JD(U) leader and former Bihar Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary today alleged that he was attacked by a mob at a village in Nawada district where he had gone to console the family of a Dalit labourer who was killed last week.
Chaudhary, who has been critical of the Nitish Kumar goverrnment in the reccent past, blamed the BJP - a partner in the ruling coalition - for "a spurt in attacks on Dalits" and claimed that the police in Nawada remained a "mute spectator" while he was abused and his convoy was pelted with stones.
"I had gone to Apsadh village in Nawada, where a Dalit, Taale Manjhi, was burnt alive last week.
The poor labourer was murdered by a group of influential persons in the vicinity who had tried to kidnap and rape his daughter.
Manjhi was punished for raising a voice of revolt," Chaudhary told PTI.
He said "I had heard that Manjhi's family was isolated after the incident and even the police was wary of visiting the village due to the tremendous clout of the perpetrators.
I therefore, decided to go there myself and informed the district police of my schedule through fax.
" He added that at the border of the village, he was accosted by a group of people who used abusive language and warned him to back off.
"I tried to reason with them even as the police stood there as a mute spectator.
Finally, I withdrew.
Our cavalcade was pelted with stones as we began to retreat.
Perhaps, I would have been physically attacked, even killed, if I had remained there for a longer period," Chaudhary said.
When contacted, IG Khan told PTI, "I have directed the Superintendent of Police of Nawada to submit a report within 24 hours, about the alleged dereliction of duty on part of the local police.
" "I have also asked the SP that those who misbehaved with the former Speaker be identified and punished at the earliest.
The DIG, Magadh Range, has been directed to monitor the investigations," he added.