After 3 deaths, Bihar bandh over his ‘murder’, teen found

A Bihar teenager, presumed dead after the recovery of a decapitated body sparked violence that claimed three lives in police firing and had the Opposition enforcing a Bihar bandh today, was traced to New Delhi along with a girl with whom he had eloped.

Bihar DGP Abhayanand told reporters that Prashant Jha (17) and Preeti Chaudhary, with whom he had eloped from Madhubani on September 7, were found in Mehrauli, New Delhi. They were spotted at a tea stall in Mehrauli by a man who recognised them with the help of photographs circulated in the public domain to trace them. They were taken to the Mehrauli police station for questioning.

Police said the teenagers left Madhubani on September 7 afternoon and travelled to Ranchi, Jammu and Darjeeling. "They arrived in Delhi by the Brahmaputra Mail shortly after 6 am today. They were spotted at a tea stall in Mehrauli and were detained," a police officer said.

They told police that their parents did not approve of their relationship since they were from different castes. So they decided to elope.

On October 4, a decapitated body, believed to be of a teenage boy, was found in Madhubani, sparking violence. Prashant's family claimed the body was of their son, that he had been killed by those opposed to the relationship.

The body was handed over to the family on Saturday after public protests over three days saw at least three die in police firing. Police stations and block offices were also torched by mobs.

The Opposition RJD, LJP and Left parties enforced a Bihar bandh today, protesting the government's "inept" handling of the Madhubani incident. The bandh was declared "successful" in Patna, Madhubani and Darbhanga.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad and LJP president Ramvilas Paswan hit the streets, criticising the law and order situation. Protesters disrupted rail traffic, delaying over a dozen trains. Over a dozen people sustained minor injuries in Muzaffarpur, Ara and Bhagalpur.

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