Patna, March 13: An Assistant Sub-Inspector was killed in a clash with criminals in Bihar’s Araria district after his team arrested an accused.

The deceased was identified as Rajiv Ranjan Mall, an ASI posted at Fulkaha police station in Araria for the last two years. Mal hailed from Janakinagar village, under Nayanagar police station, Munger district.

Mal had gone with his team to arrest accused Anmol Yadav on Wednesday. The police team faced fierce resistance from the accused’s aide, leading to a scuffle.

During the clash, Mal fell and sustained serious injuries.

He was rushed to Araria Sadar Hospital where he succumbed due to injuries.

Following the incident, the police force has been deployed at Araria Sadar Hospital to prevent further tension.

According to the police, Yadav was arrested but his associates gathered and launched an attack, leaving Mal critically injured.

During the scuffle, Mal fell unconscious, and the mob freed the accused. The injured officer was rushed to Araria Sadar Hospital.

“Our team had caught Anmol Yadav, but his associates overpowered the police and freed him. ASI Rajiv Ranjan Mal collapsed during the scuffle and was taken to the hospital where doctors declared him dead,” said Anjani Kumar, SP of Araria.

“Mal was not lynched by villagers. He fell during the scuffle and sustained serious injuries. A heavy police force is stationed in Araria to maintain order,” Kumar said.

“We have launched a manhunt to re-arrest Yadav and identify the attackers,” Kumar said.

The incident has shocked the Police Department.

“We will take strict action against those involved in the attack?” he said.

The situation remains tense in Araria.

The leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav has been attacking the Nitish government over the “deteriorating” law and order situation in the state.

The state government responds to Tejashwi’s criticism by highlighting the changed security scenario in the state and comparing it to the “jungle raj” of his parents Lalu and Rabri.

New Delhi, March 13: The Supreme Court is slated to hear next week the matter where it has taken suo moto cognisance of the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

As per the Cause List published on the website of the apex court, a Bench of Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar will resume hearing the suo moto case on March 17.

In the previous hearing, the CJI Khanna-led Bench directed hospitals and medical colleges across the country to not penalise doctors and medical professionals, who participated in protests against the ghastly rape and murder case, but had returned to their duty pursuant to the top court’s appeal.

In August last year, during the hearing on the suo moto case titled ‘Alleged rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor in R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, and related issues’, the apex court had urged the protesting medical fraternity to resume work at the earliest and assured them that no adverse action would be taken against them for participating in protests.

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is expected to file its supplementary charge sheet at a special court in Kolkata this month detailing the different aspects of the evidence tampering angle.

The Central agency officials are trying their best to submit the supplementary charge sheet at the special court in Kolkata before the scheduled hearing at the Supreme Court.

In October, the CBI filed its first charge sheet against Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer with Kolkata Police, in the alleged rape and murder case.

In the charge sheet, the CBI did not rule out the possibilities of a larger conspiracy behind the macabre crime that prompted alleged events of tampering and altering of evidence during the initial phase of the investigation which was carried out by Kolkata Police.

Besides Roy, two others arrested by the CBI officials in the matter are R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital’s former Principal, Sandip Ghosh, and the former SHO of Tala Police Station, Abhijit Mondal.

RG Kar comes under the jurisdiction of Tala Police Station.

The main charges against Ghosh and Mondal are for misleading the investigation when the Kolkata Police were probing the matter before it was handed over to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court.

Both have been accused of tampering with evidence in the case.

While pronouncing the quantum of the sentence, special court judge Anirban Das said that the CBI’s contention that Roy’s offence in the matter was “the rarest and rare crimes” was not tenable.

Hence, the judge observed that instead of the “death penalty”, Roy, an erstwhile civic volunteer attached to Kolkata Police, be sentenced to “life imprisonment”.

Apart from that, a fine of Rs 50,000 was also imposed on Roy.

The special court, at the same time, directed the West Bengal government to pay a compensation of Rs 17 lakh to the family of the deceased victim.

It observed that since the victim was raped and murdered at her workplace, which is a state-government entity, the West Bengal government is legally bound to pay compensation to the victim’s family.

The process of the framing of charges was completed on November 4, 2024, exactly 87 days after the body of the woman junior doctor was discovered at a seminar hall within the hospital premises on the morning of August 9, last year.

Taking suo moto cognisance of the crime, the Supreme Court had termed the incident “horrific,” which raises the “systemic issue of safety of doctors across the country”.

“We are deeply concerned about the fact that there is an absence of safe conditions of work for young doctors across the country, particularly, public hospitals,” it had said.

The apex court had ordered the formation of a National Task Force to suggest measures for the security of medical professionals across the country, observing that the safety of doctors is the “highest national concern”.

Lucknow, March 13: With Holi and the second Friday of Ramzan coinciding this year, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, a senior Sunni cleric, has issued an advisory urging communal harmony and peaceful celebrations.

The overlap of the festival and the Jumma prayers on March 14 has led to political tensions, prompting discussions on adjusting prayer and celebration timings to ensure order.

In several areas, local communities have taken initiatives to modify the schedule. Some mosques have decided to extend their prayer timings, while in certain places, Holi processions have been rescheduled or shortened.

Addressing the situation in a video message, Maulana Khalid Rasheed said, “The Islam Centre of India has issued an advisory to extend the timing of mosques, and our Hindu brothers have also adjusted Holi processions at many places.”

He further urged people to remain vigilant against misinformation.

“We hope that both communities will celebrate this day according to their religion and faith. There should be no confusion or rumours, and everyone should ignore any misinformation. This day should be observed in a peaceful atmosphere, setting an example of religious harmony for the world,” he added.

The advisory comes amid heightened security in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal, where mosques are being covered with tarpaulin sheets as a precautionary measure.

This step follows last year’s violent protests triggered by a court-ordered survey of the Jama Masjid, which some believe stands on the site of a demolished Vishnu temple. The incident led to clashes and fatalities, prompting local authorities to ensure no disruption during the upcoming festivals.

Meanwhile, Holi celebrations in Sambhal began with the Rangbhari Ekadashi festivities, a five-day event leading up to the main celebrations on Friday.

Authorities are closely monitoring the developments, emphasising the need for cooperation to maintain peace and order.