Key Points:
- ASI Rajiv Ranjan killed during police raid to arrest criminal Anmol Yadav in Araria, Bihar.
- Villagers violently attacked police team, freed arrested criminal.
- Four suspects detained; extensive raids underway to apprehend remaining culprits.
- Incident raises serious concerns over safety of police personnel during operations.
Patna: In a shocking incident from Araria district in Bihar, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of police was killed after being attacked by villagers while attempting to arrest a wanted criminal. The tragic event occurred late Wednesday night at Lakshmipur village under Fulkaha police station area, leaving the police department and local community stunned.
According to Araria Superintendent of Police (SP) Anjani Kumar, ASI Rajiv Ranjan Mal, stationed at Phulkaha police station, led a team on receiving intelligence inputs about notorious criminal Anmol Yadav attending a wedding function in Lakshmipur village. Yadav is wanted in multiple serious cases involving arms and drug trafficking under the NDPS Act.
The police team successfully apprehended Anmol Yadav at the wedding venue. However, as they were taking him into custody, a large group of villagers confronted the officers. A violent scuffle ensued, during which villagers forcibly freed the arrested criminal from police custody.
During this altercation, ASI Rajiv Ranjan sustained severe head injuries after reportedly being pushed and assaulted by the mob. Eyewitnesses described seeing him collapse unconscious amid chaos and heavy bleeding from head injuries. He was immediately rushed to the nearby Farbisganj hospital but was declared dead upon arrival.
ASI Rajiv Ranjan Mal hailed from Janakinagar village in Munger district and had been serving at Phulkaha police station for the past two years. He joined Bihar Police in 2007 and is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Araria Superintendent of Police (SP) Anjani Kumar confirmed the incident, stating, “Our team successfully arrested accused Anmol Yadav but faced fierce resistance from locals who forcibly freed him. During this clash, ASI Rajiv Ranjan sustained severe injuries after falling unconscious and later succumbed at the hospital.”
Following the incident, heavy police deployment has been enforced across Araria district to maintain peace and prevent further unrest. Authorities have detained four individuals for interrogation and launched an extensive search operation to identify other culprits involved using CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts.
Meanwhile, the deceased officer’s body was sent for post-mortem examination at Sadar Hospital. The exact cause of death will be determined following medical reports.
The incident highlights growing concerns over law-and-order issues in Bihar, where attacks against police personnel have become increasingly frequent. Opposition leaders have criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s administration for failing to curb rising crime rates effectively.
Senior officials have assured strict action against those responsible for the attack. DSP Forbesganj Mukesh Kumar Saha stated clearly: “We will not spare anyone involved in this incident. Our teams are conducting raids continuously.”
The tragic death of ASI Rajiv Ranjan has sparked outrage among citizens and raised serious questions about law enforcement safety protocols during sensitive operations. The incident underscores an urgent need for better coordination between local communities and security forces to avoid similar tragedies in future operations.
