HT CORRESPONDENT, 4 DEC 2006, HINDUSTAN TIMES, PATNA.
Every incident of crime in the State Capital evokes a ‘predictable’ response from those committed to the task of opposing a ruling dispensation. But the widespread reaction over the brutal murder of Patna University Professor, Papiya Ghosh, along with her maidservant, gives out a distinct feeling that it is not about ‘nit picking’ but a spontaneous expression of concern over the law and order situation, now threatening to go awry.
The fact that the teaching community has taken a lead in expressing their anger over the growing incidents of crime indicates the question related to law and order has slowly but surely started to agitate the residents. More so, when most of the senior citizens are being forced to live alone. In this backdrop, the reactions by political outfits are serious.
Reacting strongly, the Secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist) Vijayakant Thakur said, “The incident has badly exposed Nitish Government’s claim on law and order front. It reiterates that no one is safe in the State Capital.”
The role of local Police should be brought under the ambit of a CBI inquiry as the officials had been earlier informed by the victim about the nefarious designs of criminal elements on her house and property, he said and added, “In the death of Ghosh not only the teaching fraternity but the people of the State have lost an able Teacher.”
The reaction of State secretary CPI-ML, Nandkishore Prasad was more scathing. “A Government that cannot protect the lives of its citizens, in the Capital cannot be expected to guarantee the lives of the teeming millions living in far of places,” he said and added, “the incident is a strong indictment of the Government that promised to bring crime under control within three months in office.”
Other incidents, like the one in Sasaram and Bagaha, also point out that the morale of criminals is high and their nexus with Police Administration have emerged stronger. “Public anger against Government patronage to criminal elements is growing with each passing day,” Prasad said.
The State President of Nationalist Congress Party, Aquuil Haider, said the murder of Ghosh was proof of the deteriorating law and order situation. “In fact, delay in the arrest of criminals has thrown the State back to Lalu-Rabri days,” he said.
Dr Noorhasan Azad, General Secretary, All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaj, has also condemned the incident. Demanding death sentence for the culprits, he said, “Her death has caused a great setback to the Dalit Muslims and Pasmanda agitation as she was doing research work on their struggle.” Cultural Organisation, Lokayat, has also expressed similar views.
Others to join the condemnation included Manoj Sharma, General Secretary, Bihar Pradesh Youth Congress, Shatrunjay Prasad Pandey, General Secretary, Samata Party, Mrityunjay Kumar, President PU Wing of Chatra Lok Janshakti and Barun Kumar Singh of Bihar Pradesh Vocational Teachers’ Association. They demanded stern action to nip the trend of crime for targeting property as it could trigger a ‘migration of different kind”.