Nitish, Modi appeal for calm in Madhubani district

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi on Saturday appealed for calm in violence-marred Madhubani district.

The state government had acted promptly and ordered a judicial probe into the violence and police firing on Friday in the district. It also transferred senior administrative and police officials, Kumar and Modi said in a joint appeal.

They said a new district magistrate and superintendent of police have taken charge and appealed to the people not to pay heed to rumours.

Kumar and Modi said that the body of the student, whose abduction and murder had sparked off the large-scale violence and arson in the district, has been handed over to his family for the last rites.

The state government has also decided to recommend a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the kidnap and the killing of the boy, they said.

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad alleged that the announcement of a judicial probe was an attempt to fool the people and cover up the incident.

"What is the outcome of judicial probes ordered into the killing of four people of the minority community at Forbesganj in 2000 and the Kosi floods," he asked.

He likened the chief minister to General Dyer, who was responsible for the Jallianwala massacre.

"Nitish is playing the role of General Dyer. He had sought votes with folded hands and is raining bullets on the people now," he said.

Prasad said his party would support the Bihar bandh called by Left parties on October 15 against the police firing in Madhubani.