Bihar: Sushil Kumar Modi detained as BJP workers clash with cops

A clash between BJP workers and police broke out in Patna on Thursday when thousands took out a march towards Bihar Vidhan Sabha against the JD(U) led government's teacher recruitment policy. One BJP leader was, reportedly, killed in the clash.

Police had to use tear gas shells and water canons to disperse the workers. The march had commenced from Gandhi Maidan.

The BJP leader who died at amid protest was identified as Vijay Kumar Singh. Though he was rushed to hospital, he was declared brought dead.

Sushil Kumar Modi, Rajya Sabha MP in his latest tweet confirmed that Singh “died in brutal police lathi charge”.

“It is so unfortunate that one of our party workers died due to a lathi charge by the police. He died on the way to the hospital. We will lodge murder charges against the police. Nitish Kumar is responsible for all this” Modi told ANI.

The opposition held the Nitish government, especially Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, accountable, who had promised 10 lakh jobs.

"Everybody knows who made the rhetorical promise. Only one individual had done so. It is, now, the time to deliver," said State BJP President Samrat Choudhary.

BJP Chief J.P. Nadda condemned the police action. “The lathi-charge on BJP workers in Patna is a result of the failure and incompetence of the state government,” he tweeted.

The chief minister of Bihar has forgotten his own mortality to save the person who is facing charges, he added.

BJP workers wearing saffron kurtas, saris, salwar suits and bandanas, walked waving the party flag while some were perched atop a “prachar rath” (campaign vehicle). Slogans of Nitish government “must resign” was raised by the workers.

“We have deployed extra forces at all sensitive points and barricades and where necessary traffic has been diverted to alternative routes,” said Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Rajiv Mishra.

Police had to use force when the protesters tried to cross the barricade.

The opposition party has sought to lend its support to teaching job aspirants who are resenting the "no domicile" policy of recruitment, among other things, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, apart from cancelling all leaves of the teachers, the education department had ordered “100 per cent attendance” at schools on the day. The department also directed the district administration to take note of those teachers participating in the street protests.