By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: What could be the reason to sit on its own cabinet decision for 15 days and wake up only when National Commission for Minorities chairperson Mr Wajahat Habibullah arrives the state capital to meet Governor and top officials over Forbesganj police firing? Maybe, the state government thought just announcement would suffice, and its mukhiya proceeded on weeklong China tour.
On Wednesday (22nd June) the Nitish Kumar government issued notification for constitution of a judicial commission to probe the June 3 police firing. His cabinet had taken the decision to the effect on 7th June, but there was no further movement on the decision for next 15 days.
Unsatisfied with reports from Araria SSP and state Home Secretary on the Forbesganj firing, and facing lots of representations from victims and civil society, NCM chief Mr Habibullah visited the affected Bhajanpur village on 21st June where police had opened fire on villagers on June 3 killing four including a six-month-old infant and a five-month pregnant woman.
The judicial panel to be headed by retired justice Madhvendra Sharan will submit its report within six months. The terms of reference for the panel are: Circumstances leading to the incident on June 3; sequence of events on June 3; justification of the police firing.
Though initially they were not giving the incident much attention, the mainstream media was forced to take notice only after a concerted campaign by TCN highlighting issue from the Ground Zero (Bhajanpur) to PMCH in Patna where some of the firing victims are being treated.