Bihar communal clash: Court issues warrant against Union minister’s son
A local court issued non bailable arrest warrant against Arjit Shashwat Choubey, son of Union minister Ashwini Choubey, and eight others in connection with the recent communal violence in Nathnagar.
The court of additional chief judicial magistrate late on Saturday issued the arrest warrant on the plea of Nathnagar police. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manoj Kumar confirmed this. The petition for arrest warrant along with case diary was submitted in court in the last hour on Saturday following which the NBW was issued.
Arjit had been named in the first FIR lodged by police against those participating in a procession organised by Nav Varsh Ayojan Samiti to mark the beginning of new year as per Hindi calendar.
The procession, led by the Union minister’s son, had allegedly sparked communal violence in Nathnagar and Champanagar areas of the city, claimed the police. More than 400 unknown persons participating in the procession were also made accused in the FIR. All the accused were charged with taking out the procession without prior permission from the district officials concerned. They were also accused of arousing communal passions by playing objectionable songs and raising slogans, leading to a flare up in the area. In another FIR lodged in connection with the clashes, 10 persons were named accused along with nearly 500 unknown persons.
An earlier move by the police last Wednesday to seek arrest warrant had received a jolt when the court directed police to file relevant papers concerning all those named in the FIRs together.
The police’s subsequent move on Thursday to seek arrest warrant against Arjit and others also failed due to non-submission of case diary. After thorough supervision of the case by senior SP, police once again moved the court on Saturday for an arrest warrant. The petition for warrant along with case diary was submitted in the court at the last hour.
As per sources, those against whom arrest warrant has been issued include Abhay Kumar Ghosh alias Sonu Ghosh, Dev Kumar Pandey, Pramod Kumar Verma, Niranjan Singh, Surendra Pathak, Sanjay Bhatt, Pranav Sah, Anup Lal Sah and Pranav Das. Police are likely to step up efforts for execution of arrest warrant after Ramnavami, the sources added.
BHAGALPUR: