JD(U) MLA's gangster hubby escapes from police station

Dreaded gangster and husband of JD(U) legislator Bima Bharti, Awadhesh Mandal escaped from the Mirganj police station in Purnia on Monday.

Mandal was arrested on Sunday evening on the charge of threatening eyewitnesses in a murder case in which he is a prime accused.

Meanwhile, Purnia SP Nishant Tiwary has suspended the station house officer (SHO) of the police station on the charge of dereliction of duty.

“Special police teams have been constituted to apprehend Mandal who faces more than 100 cases of murder, extortion, loot and kidnapping. More than 40 cases have been lodged against him in Bhavanipur police station alone,” said the SP.

Mandal’s wife Bima Bharti was a Cabinet Minister in the previous Nitish regime as well as Jitan Ram Manjhi Government. At present, she is the JD(U) MLA from Rupauli constituency and not included in the ministry owing to her controversial past.

Taking serious exception to an accused fleeing from the police station, senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi charged the Nitish regime of giving patronage to criminal elements. “Not only should Mandal be arrested, but all those who helped him escape should be booked,” said Modi.