Bihar Ram Navami violence: BJP ex-MLA Jawahar Prasad arrested; CM Nitish Kumar says no one will be spared
The Rohtas Superintendent of Police Vinit Kumar arrested Prasad after obtaining a court warrant. “The arrest followed after our investigation suggested Prasad’s involvement in communal violence,” the SP said.
Reacting to the development, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, “The police have been doing their job. All those involved, irrespective of their party affiliations, would be arrested.” He had earlier said the violence in Sasaram and Biharsharif, reported on the same day, was “part of a possible political conspiracy”.
Prasad was allegedly among those who were instrumental in mobilising the crowd during the procession that pelted stones at members of the Muslim community in Sasaram. On April 1, six persons were also injured in a crude bomb blast. The police, however, said the incidents were unrelated. A total of 63 people have been arrested in the case so far.
BJP OBC Morcha national general secretary Nikhil Anand said, “The Nitish Kumar government has made Jawahar Prasad a scapegoat for the Ram Navami violence. Prasad is an aged person having served five terms as an MLA”.
After being elected five times, Jawahar Prasad was denied a ticket in the 2020 Assembly polls. At present, Sasaram is represented by RJD’s Rajesh Kumar Gupta.
