Probe ordered into ‘PFI posters’ found in Katihar, Purnia

PATNA: The state government on Sunday ordered an investigation into controversial posters put up on the premises of Katihar district collectorate and some other places in Purnia and Darbhanga districts allegedly by the Popular Front of India (PFI) reminding people of the Babri mosque demolition on December 6, 1992.
Deputy CM and senior BJP leader Tarkishore Prasad said, “The home department and the Katihar police have taken cognizance of the matter.Those found to be involved in vitiating the social harmony will be taken to task. District authorities have been asked to conduct a thorough investigation.”
Tarkishore Prasad is the BJP MLA from Katihar. While posters were put up in Katihar on Saturday, similar posters were found in Purnia and Darbhanga districts on Sunday, which were seized and separate FIRs were lodged.
The development came barely a few days after simultaneous searches carried out by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on different locations of PFI in Darbhanga and Purnia districts on Thursday.The posters, having pictures of the Babri mosque at Ayodhya were pasted on the walls of the Katihar collectorate building, which houses the offices of the DM and the SP besides other senior officials. “The message is written in both Hindi and Urdu and the address of the outfit mentioned as Delhi,” a police officer posted at Katihar Sahayak police station said.
Katihar SP Vikas Kumar on Sunday said, “A case under relevant sections of the Property Defacement Act has been lodged with the Katihar Sahayak police station and investigation is underway. In addition, an alert has been sounded across the district in the wake of the Babri mosque demolition day.”
Similar posters were put up on Jail Road and Astha Chowk in Purnia and a few places in Darbhanga’s Singhwara police station on Sunday.
Purnia SP Vishal Sharma said, “We have received information about some posters put up by the PFI on the local jail road and some other locations in the district headquarters town today. They are being verified and proper action will be taken accordingly.”