Dhanbad: A day after 18 people were arrested in connection with the stone-pelting incident during a Ram Navami procession in Baliapur’s Bhikhrajpur village, leaders from the ruling alliance, including Congress, JMM and RJD, on Sunday raised serious concerns over the manner in which police handled the situation.Addressing a joint press conference at the Circuit House, alliance representatives strongly condemned the incident and questioned the police actions. According to them, while 18 individuals were arrested and sent to jail, the act of parading the accused in the marketplace prior to legal proceedings was “highly objectionable and unlawful”.Congress member Bajendra Singh said that such actions amount to a violation of human rights and could potentially harass innocent individuals. “The Supreme Court has clearly laid down that no person should be subjected to public humiliation or identification procedures until proven guilty. The police action goes against established judicial norms,” he said.RJD member Mumtaz Qureshi urged chief minister Hemant Soren to intervene in the matter and ensure accountability. He demanded strict action against officers responsible for the alleged misconduct while emphasising that those involved in the violence must face stringent punishment.JMM’s Manu Alam also echoed similar concerns, stressing that police must ensure that no innocent person is penalised. They collectively demanded a fair and impartial investigation.Opposition BJP defended the police action. Dhanbad BJP MLA Raj Sinha described it as “commendable”, stating that the parade of accused instilled a sense of security among the public.He acknowledged the possibility of procedural lapses, suggesting that some innocent persons might have been arrested in haste and should be reviewed.Sinha alleged that the Ram Navami procession was proceeding peacefully when miscreants initiated stone-pelting, forcing participants to retaliate in self-defence.Attempts to contact Dhanbad SSP Prabhat Kumar for an official statement were unsuccessful.
