Author: PTI
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 20, 2004
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/831916.cms
A ruling RJD Minister's raising
a private army of toughs to tackle criminals in his assembly constituency
in Bihar's west Champaran district has touched off criticism by Opposition
leader and possibility of legal action by the district magistrate.
The Minister, Rajesh Singh's private
army, christened 'Fighter Group', has 40 members all armed to the teeth
and who are subjected to regular exercise and provided training to handle
sophisticated arms by the Minister and others.
"The group has been formed to take
on the might of criminals, provide security and instill confidence among
common people in Dhanha assembly constituency," Singh, the Minister of
State for Transport, said.
The Minister, who recently left
the Bahujan Samaj Party and joined the RJD, has a traditional rivalry with
a notorious dacoit of the area, Basudeo Yadav.
However, Deputy Inspector-General
of Police, Tirhut range, S K Bhardwaj told PTI by phone from Bettiah on
Sunday that he had directed West Champaran Superintendent of Police to
inquire into the antecedents of the members of the private army.
West Champaran district magistrate
Rahul Singh said, "If it is a private army with 'unlawful objectives',
suitable legal action would be initiated."
Leader of the Opposition in the
Bihar Assembly Upendra Kushwaha and state BJP chief Gopal Narayan Singh
criticised the state government for the raising of a private army by a
minister and said this was enough to prove that the law and order situation
in the state under the RJD regime had touched its nadir. They demanded
a detailed probe into the matter.