A ruling JD(U) legislator in Bihar has caused alarm and public anxiety by saying he plans to form a “private army” to put an end to the rising crime graph and Maoist activities in his constituency and nearby areas in central Bihar.
Annoyed by a series of recent criminal incidents in Sahebganj in Muzaffarpur district, MLA Rajukumar Singh Raju announced his plans to form a group of armed vigilantes to take on organised gangs, petty criminals and the Maoists active in the area. In a state where 141 of the total 243 MLAs — nearly 59 per cent — have pending criminal cases against them, Mr Singh’s announcement caused ripples among both politicians and police officials, but most chose to ignore it.
“Since criminals have been frequently attacking and terrorising people in this area, there is now no better way to fight this menace than to take up arms as part of a private army. I am planning to form a private army to put an end to crime in my area,” Mr Singh reportedly said during a bandh to protest the murder of his constituency representative Bhola Singh by the Maoists.