Local residents attacked a police station on Friday in Araria district of Bihar following the alleged suicide of a man and his minor sister-in-law, whom he had reportedly “married” just three days prior. Two civilians were injured in police firing, reports The Indian Express.
The incident unfolded after a resident of Tarauna village purportedly married his 14-year-old sister-in-law on Tuesday, prompting his wife to file a complaint with the local police.
The police subsequently arrested the “couple”, who allegedly died by suicide while in custody.
As the news circulated, angry villagers gathered at the police station and vandalised it, and also set fire to a thatched structure within the police station premises. They allegedly also hurled stones at police officers.
Araria’s Assistant Superintendent of Police, Rampukar Singh, one of three policemen injured in the violence, said, “Villagers were not willing to listen to the police version and attacked us.”
The police had fired shots, resulting in the injury of two people.
The families of the deceased man and his sister-in-law have accused the police of beating them, alleging that this led to their deaths. However, Araria’s Superintendent of Police, Amit Ranjan said that it is a case of suicide.
Police said that based on CCTV footage, 19 people have been arrested.