BJP Decries Patna Lathicharge as State-Sponsored Violence

Former Jharkhand CM, Raghubar Das, leads a BJP investigation team to probe the alleged police brutality in Patna, demands a judicial inquiry.

PATNA – In response to the alleged police brutality against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers in Patna, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and National Vice President of BJP, Raghubar Das, has led an investigation team to the region on July 13, 2023. The team, which included MP Manoj Tiwari, VD Ram, and Sunita Duggal, sought to assess the claims of state-sanctioned violence and to communicate with the victims of the event.

Visit to the Injured

The investigation team first visited the PMCH in Patna to meet injured BJP workers. Subsequent hospital visits to IGIMS and LNJP were conducted to check on the condition of injured party members, including Maharajganj MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal. Reports of violent lathi charges on both male and female activists were presented to the team, highlighting severe injuries and one death of a worker, Vijay Kumar Singh.

On-Site Investigation

The team later visited Patna’s Dakbungalow intersection, the site of the alleged police action. Eyewitness accounts detailed how the peaceful procession was led into a narrow street before the police began lathi charges without warning, resulting in a significant number of injuries.

State-Sponsored Violence

In an evening press conference, Raghubar Das described the police action as state-sponsored violence and denounced the Nitish Kumar-Tejashwi Yadav government for its handling of the peaceful protest.

The former Jharkhand Chief Minister demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident, expressing that it was a grave violation of the democratic right to peaceful protest.

Das assured that the BJP workers will continue to raise public issues and will not remain silent until the Bihar coalition government fulfills its promise of creating 20 lakh jobs for women, farmers, and teachers.

He reaffirmed that the party is undeterred by any amount of injustice or oppression.

Concluding the Visit

The investigation team met the family of the deceased BJP worker, Vijay Kumar Singh, to offer their condolences and assurances of support from the entire BJP family. The team intends to submit a detailed report on the incident to BJP National President JP Nadda.