1 Dead, 2 Injured in Police Firing During Power Outage Protest in Bihar

Katihar: At least one individual was killed and two others injured during a protest in Bihar’s Katihar, where residents of a village near Barsoi town gathered outside the electricity department. The protest was against irregular electricity supply and higher tariffs.

Initial reports suggest that the mob resorted to violence, pelting stones, and vandalizing the electricity department’s office. In response, the police attempted to control the situation through aerial firing, lathi-charge, and firing to disperse the crowd.

The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Khurshid (35). One of the injured has been referred to Siliguri in West Bengal, while the other is receiving treatment at Sadar Hospital in Katihar. The mob was reportedly carrying primitive weapons like sticks and boulders, which led to injuries to about 12 electricity department officials.

The incident drew criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which condemned the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government’s handling of the situation. A BJP spokesperson likened Nitish Kumar to General Dyer, the British official responsible for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, accusing the government of using force against those demanding their rights.

Opposition leaders in Bihar, Vijay Sinha, and former Deputy Chief Minister Tarakishore Prasad, also strongly condemned the government’s actions, likening them to dictatorial regimes like Hitler’s.

The situation remains tense in Katihar, and authorities are closely monitoring developments. Further investigations into the incident are underway.