Stringent steps after getting probe report on Bagha firing: Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Under opposition attack for the police firing at Bagaha in which six Tharu tribals were killed, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said some steps have been taken at the local level and more stringent measures would be initiated after the recommendations of the probe committee were submitted.

The two-member probe team would submit its report on the police firing to the government either today or tomorrow, the CM told reporters at the state guest house where he had gone to meet Union Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan.

The probe team comprising Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) S K Bhardwaj and Director General Prisons Anand Kishore has completed its tour of Bagha and has to inquire into on some more points before submitting report either today or tomorrow, the CM, who had constituted the panel, said.

Describing the incident as 'sorrowful', Kumar said a compensation of Rs 4 lakh has been paid to family of each of the victims and proper arrangements have been made for the treatment of the injured. "I had spent three days in that region in April and toured the area. Its sorrowful that unpleasant incident has happened in this place."

Highlighting government's concern for the Tharu tribals, the CM said it has formed a Tharuhat Development Authority.

Opposition BJP, RJD, LJP, Left Parties and Congress have been criticising Nitish Kumar government over the firing on Monday.

The BJP had observed Bagha bandh yesterday, while the Left parties are observing a state-wide one today during which CPI-ML General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya along with hundreds of bandh supporters courted arrest.