ihar Minister Dilip Jaiswal
By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Calling the Nalanda incident “deeply tragic”, Bihar Minister Dilip Jaiswal said the government acted swiftly, suspending the local SHO and four constables. Compensation was transferred to victims’ families within four hours, while the Narendra Modi also announced financial assistance from his relief fund. An inquiry into the incident is ongoing.
The tragedy occurred on Tuesday at the Maghada Sheetla Temple in Nalanda, where a large number of devotees had gathered. A sudden stampede led to the deaths of nine people, while several others were injured. Preliminary findings in the investigation point to serious negligence. Kundan Krishnan, DGP (Operations) and Special Branch, visited the site and observed that there had been a major failure in crowd management, leading to the suspension of four police personnel.
Investigators found that shops had been set up haphazardly within the temple premises, significantly narrowing entry and exit routes. When the crowd surged, there was no clear passage for people to evacuate, worsening the situation and leading to multiple casualties.
Speaking to the media, Mr Jaiswal also addressed other political issues. Criticising Tejashwi Yadav, he said the Leader of the Opposition was currently visiting Kerala and only spoke about crime in Bihar after reading newspapers and watching television. He added that in a state of 140 million people, offenders would not escape punishment and asserted that the rule of law prevails in Bihar.
On concerns that prohibition has led to a rise in the trade of synthetic or “dry” drugs, he said such claims were often made by addicts. He added that any discussion on prohibition should also consider its benefits and possible alternatives.
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