The situation is tense after a Shivling was damaged by an Islamist man in Begusarai, Bihar. Angered by the breaking of the Shivling, people took to the streets demanding the arrest of the accused, and blocked NH-31. This incident took place in Khatopur Chowk of Lakhon police station area.
According to the information received, there is a Shiv mandir near Khatopur Chowk. A large Muslim population resides around the mandir and there are meat shops nearby.
Local people allege that people of Muslim community drink alcohol while sitting nearby the mandir. They keep polluting the environment by throwing the meat remains in the mandir premises. This was protested many times but no one is ready to listen to anything, and even the administration is not doing anything at all, alleged locals.
People allege that even on the night of the incident, people from the Muslim community drank alcohol while sitting in the mandir and then they broke the Shivling. When Hindus protested, they were abused and attacked by the Muslims.
The local people have identified the primary accused as Javed; despite this, the police is not taking any action, they claim. At present, angry people are blocking the NH and demanding the arrest of the accused. The situation in the area is quite tense and all the nearby shops are closed. People have threatened that traffic will remain stalled until the accused is arrested.
SP Yogendra Kumar said that at around 11:05 pm, information was received that a part of the Shivling of the mandir was broken. As soon as the information was received, Lakh police station chief along with armed forces reached the Shiv mandir within ten minutes and verified the information.
Efforts are being made to re-establish the Shivling. In the meantime the Police is checking the nearby CCTVs to figure out other people involved in this incident. From the law and order point of view, necessary actions are being taken, an FIR has been lodged and further investigation is underway.
