MUZZAFARPUR-
At least three persons were burnt alive by Hindu rioters who set dozens of thatched huts ablaze in a densely populated Muslim neighbourhood near Indian city of Muzzafarpur on Sunday.
According to Indian media reports, the deadly riots broke out after a kidnapped youth belonging to Hindu fishermen community was found dead in Saraiya village, nearly 105 kilometers (65 miles) north of Patna, the capital of Bihar state.
The youth, Bhartendu Kumar, 19, who had been missing for a couple of days, was allegedly in love with a Muslim girl.
“This afternoon, police said, Kumar’s body was found in a paddy field owned by one Shafaquat Ali, who had been accused of kidnapping him.
Muzaffarpur top cop is himself leading the investigation of the case.
“Senior officials, including IG (Muzaffarpur) Parasnath, DIG Ajay Mishra, SP Ranjit Mishra and DM Anupam Kumar were camping at the village while the police headquarters has rushed reinforcement from the state capital,” an Indian media report quoted officials as saying.
Reportedly, the family members of both the boy and the girl clashed after Bhartendu’s body was recovered.
Bhartendu’s family suspects Shafaquat is responsible for the Hindu youth’s murder.
Shortly after news of Bhartendu’s murder reached his family and neighbours, they stormed the Muslim neighborhood.
Muslim men, who were trapped inside the huts, burnt to death helplessly.
Though, the main accused, Shafaquat Ali, has been arrested but the tension in the Bihar village is far from over.
