Guards fire after flood protesters attack Bhagalpur SDM

BHAGALPUR: The security guards of Bhagalpur SDM resorted to firing to disperse a mob, which attacked the officer during his visit to flood-hit areas under Nathnagar sub-division of the district on Saturday. Though SDM Ashish Narayan escaped unhurt, his two security personnel suffered injuries in the stone pelting. Their official vehicle was also damaged by the crowd, which got agitated over the administration’s alleged apathy to provide relief material to the marooned people.
The incident took place when the SDM was on way to Nathnagar to receive a central team visiting the district to assess the damage caused by the floods.A group of people, stated to be flood victims, had blocked NH-80 near Ramchandrapur Navtolia and disrupted vehicular traffic. When the security personnel accompanying the SDM tried to remove the blockade, the protesters started pelting stones. The security personnel had to open fire to bring the situation under control.
Narayan, however, said some people with sticks and iron rods were extorting money from truckers which the security personnel protested. Infuriated over the police action, the protesters pelted the cops with stones. The situation was brought under control after reinforcements reached the site. An FIR was lodged with Nathnagar police station on the statement of the SDM’s bodyguard.