One more charred body was found from a field taking toll in the arson in Bihar's Muzaffarpur to five, including the death of an abducted youth, even as Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who cut short his Mumbai visit, arrived here and took stock of the situation.
One more charred body has been recovered from a nearby field today, Senior Superintendent of Police Muzaffarpur R K Mishra told PTI.
The SSP said at least 14 persons have been arrested in connection with yesterday's violence in a village in Muzaffarpur in which a mob torched nine houses following recovery of the body of an abducted youth.
Security has been tightened in the area with additional deployment of five companies (500 personnel) of Bihar Military Police (BMP), Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Gupteshwar Pandey, who is camping at Muzaffarpur since last night, said.
Senior JD(U) leader and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today condemned the Muzaffarpur incident.
"On getting information about the incident yesterday, I talked to the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and party leaders at Muzaffarpur of both Hindu and Muslim communities to maintain harmony at any cost," Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of a book release function in Phulwarisharif in Patna district.
He said the culprits should be immediately brought to book.
JD(U) Rajya Sabha member Ali Anwar after visiting the affected village, said there has been "lapse" on part of the police administration by reaching the spot "late" after recovery of body of the abducted youth and asserted, "Muzaffarpur would not be allowed to become Muzaffarnagar."
Union Minister of State for Rural Development Ramkripal Yadav attributed the incident to "failure" of the state government.
LJP Lok Sabha member from Vaishali Rama Singh also talked about alleged failure of the district administration.
