Patna: Over 300 policemen go on rampage over death of fellow constable

Hundreds of police officials are on a rampage damaging police vehicles and attacking officers following the death of a woman police constable early on Friday, November 2.

More than 300 trainee officials, including a large number of women, at the Patna Police Lines ransacked police officers’ quarters after their fellow member lost her life "due to sheer negligence and inhuman authoritarian stance of her seniors", the protesters said.

They complained that they were exploited in the name of duty for hours without even being provided basic facilities. “We do duty without food, water and toilet facility. It is impossible to get leave for genuine reasons,” they said.

Savita Pathak was a woman constable posted at the Police Lines and had been feeling sick according to her colleagues. She had applied for leave but the application was denied and her condition worsened. The constable who died has been suffering from dengue.

She was rushed to a private hospital following a dip in her health. However, she died during treatment.

Tension gripped the police lines in the heart of the city after the rampaging mob damaged a temple structure nearby and general public turned on them.

Manu Maharaj, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Patna reached the spot as the situation got out of hand. The rural superintendent of police and other senior officers also reached the scene.

These individuals were also attacked by the agitating policemen. Finally the situation was brought under control by the Bihar Military Police, the armed division of the state police.

The mob even chased away seniors who approached them to pacify the situation. They pelted stones and even thrashed some of the senior officers, police said.

Patna SSP Manu Maharaj said they were carrying out investigations to ascertain the cause behind the incident.