Six arrested over mob violence in Darbhanga

Patna: Six people were arrested late on Sunday night and raids are continuing to nab others in connection with vandalism by a mob protesting the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in Darbhanga district.

The child had been missing since Saturday evening and her family members were searching for her when her body was found near a pond on the outskirts of the village later that night.The incident sparked protests from locals, who took to the streets and blocked the main road. Protesters damaged vehicles, set fires and pelted stones at police personnel, injuring several officials, including the sub-divisional magistrate.

Police said on Monday that a case had been registered against 30 named and 200 unnamed people in connection with the violence and rioting.Darbhanga SSP Jagunath Raddi said, “Police registered an FIR against 30 named and 200 unknown people involved in the violence based on video footage of the protest. Late on Sunday night, police conducted a raid in the Sundarpur Bela area under University police station limits. Under the leadership of SDM Vikas Kumar and SDPO Rajiv Kumar, six youths were arrested during the raid.”

Raddi said efforts were on to identify others involved in vandalism and stone-pelting at the police team using video footage circulated across various platforms. “They will be arrested soon,” he said.University police station SHO Sudhir Kumar said legal action was being taken against those involved in violence and vandalism on the directions of senior officials. He appealed to people to maintain peace and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.The girl had gone missing on Saturday evening, and her family members searched for her continuously. Later that night, dogs were heard barking near a pond outside the village, arousing suspicion. When family members reached the spot, they found the girl lying in a blood-soaked condition near a wall by the pond. She had died by then.Swift action was taken and the accused was identified and sent to judicial custody. However, angry local residents began protesting and demanded that the accused be handed over to them.