Bihar: Violence and clashes mark festival

PATNA:At least eight persons were killed in three days as incidents of firing and clashes among rival groups marred Holi in Bihar.

On Saturday, an unidentified man was hacked to death by unknown criminals at busy Dariapur locality in Patna. Police said the deceased, yet to be identified, had allegedly fired at another person, who picked up a knife from a shop selling chicken and attacked him. The man died on the spot, DSP (town) SA Hasmi said, adding police had recovered a pistol and a knife from the spot.

On Friday evening, two persons, identified as Raushan Kumar and Babloo Paswan, were killed at Hardash Bigha village in rural Patna. Police said Raushan and his friend, Mohammad Gulfam, were trying to make a video of people consuming liquor on Holi. This infuriated villagers who thrashed the two, said acting SSP Lalan Mohan Prasad said. “Subsequently, Raushan opened fire, in which a villager, Babloo Paswan was killed. An irate mob then chased Raushan and beat him to death,” Prasad added.

A policeman was shot at by criminals in Kankarbagh police station area here in a raid on Thursday. The condition of the injured policeman, admitted in PMCH, is said to be serious. A case has been registered and five persons have been detained in connection with the incident.

A 22-year-old man, identified as Akash Kumar, was also shot dead in Paschim Darwaza locality. Police said three criminals fired at Kumar, who died on the spot. Police said an old rivalry could be the reason.

Tension prevailed in Khazasarai village of Darbhanga district during Holi festival after a group of people attacked a house and also torched three vehicles, including two motorcycles, parked there.