In a shocking instance of the utter lack of security in Bihar’s courts and daring lawlessness, criminals on Tuesday exploded two bombs on the premises of a civil court near Patna to free an under-trial dacoit, causing injuries to three people but ultimately failing in their purpose.
The civil court campus in Hajipur in Vaishali district, some 20 km from Patna, was a scene of chaos and panic in the morning as two crude bombs went off with a sharp noise soon after a police van carrying 33 prisoners from the town jail entered through the court gates. As the van reached the lock-up, the criminals hurled two bombs near it. Under-trial prisoner Santlal Sah, an alleged dacoit, tried to flee from the custody of the jail police by jumping down the van and dashed to the court’s boundary wall. The cops managed to catch him after a frantic chase in the court campus through the smoke and commotion.
Three people, including a woman, suffered minor splinter injuries from the explosions, the police said.
The police later recovered one live bomb in the court campus and defused it.