In the Dulhinbazar police station area of Jhabuchak village in Patna district, Bihar, a woman died following a police altercation. The deceased, identified as Radhika Devi, wife of Satendra Bind, died after an encounter with the police. Her death triggered widespread protests, with locals blocking the Paliganj Masaurhi road near Ichipur, setting up a roadblock with her body.
Upon receiving information about the blockade, police from multiple police stations in Paliganj arrived at the scene. After negotiations, the police managed to clear the road and restore traffic. According to Geera Kumari, Radhika Devi’s daughter-in-law, police from Dulhinbazar police station entered their home late Friday night, going over the roof of another house. The police then allegedly assaulted her and her mother-in-law, Radhika Devi. The latter collapsed and became unconscious.
Despite attempts to revive her, Radhika Devi did not regain consciousness. A female police officer suggested using water, but Radhika Devi did not respond, and was declared dead. The police personnel then left the house. The family demanded justice. This incident stemmed from a case where a woman named Poonam Devi had filed a complaint about her daughter’s abduction four days earlier, but the police had initially failed to take the matter seriously.
Following the initial inaction, the victim approached the DGP, who ordered an investigation by the Patna SSP. An investigation led by Paliganj DSP 2 confirmed the negligence of the police, and the Dulhinbazar station in-charge was suspended. The police had gone to the deceased woman’s home late Friday night to arrest the accused.
Paliganj DSP 2 Umeshwar Kumar Chaudhary said that an altercation occurred during the raid, which led to the woman’s death. The DSP stated that the deceased woman’s two sons were named in an abduction case. The cause of the woman’s death is still under investigation. A medical team has been formed to conduct a post-mortem. If police officers are found guilty, legal action will be taken. The body has been sent to Patna AIIMS for post-mortem.
