Political Row Intensifies Over Crime Allegations in Bihar

Jitan Ram Manjhi claims that most crimes in Bihar are committed by RJD workers and warns of dire consequences. RJD counterclaims that the government is using baseless allegations to hide its shortcomings in crime control.

Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Tuesday claimed that most of the crimes in Bihar are committed by RJD workers, and warned that criminals who do not stop such activities ''will be killed''.

He said that the Samrat Choudhary-led Bihar government is dealing strictly with criminals.

''Going through official data, it becomes very clear that most of the crimes, be it land grabbing, murder or atrocities against SCs and STs, are committed by RJD workers. They should mend their ways,'' Manjhi told reporters here.

The CM has clearly stated that criminals should either stop indulging in crimes or leave Bihar, he added.

''If they do not stop indulging in crimes, they will be killed,'' the Union minister added.

His statement comes amid a wave of encounters in Bihar, in which criminals are either shot fatally or in the leg while allegedly attacking police.

Manjhi said the government has ''ordered encounters, which are an effective way to improve the law and order situation'' in the state.

Manjhi also accused the erstwhile RJD regime of orchestrating compromises between criminals and victims and claimed that ''there is a sense of fear among criminals under the present NDA government''.

''Under the RJD rule, Tejashwi Yadav's father used to call criminals to the official CM residence and broker a compromise between them and the victims. Tejashwi Yadav has no right to speak on the law and order situation. Today, there is dread among criminals under the NDA government,'' he added.

Responding to his remarks, RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said the government is trying to ''cover up its failure in controlling crime'' by levelling ''baseless allegations'' against opposition parties.

''They (NDA) have governments both in the state and at the Centre. Yet, there is no check on crimes. If all the crimes are being committed by the RJD workers, what is the government doing? This is just an excuse to hide their incompetence,'' he said.

The government should accept its failure and the fact that it is not able to handle the country and Bihar properly, Tiwari added.

''The Bihar government is trying to copy (Uttar Pradesh CM) Yogi Adityanath's encounter model. It is still not able to control crime because criminals get political protection under the current dispensation,'' Tiwari said.

He said that the fear of the police uniform among criminals is necessary to curb crimes.