Bhagalpur Violence: BJP minister’s son Arijit Shashwat arrested for rioting

Arijit Shashwat, son of senior BJP leader and Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey and accused of Bhagalpur riots was arrested from Patna late on Saturday night.

“We had information that Shashwat was at the famous Hanuman temple in the vicinity of Patna Junction. A police team reached the spot and arrested him and he has been sent to Bhagalpur,” said Manu Maharaj, Senior Superintendent of Police, Patna.

The arrest came hours after a Bhagalpur court on Saturday rejected Shashwat’s anticipatory bail plea. He was sent to a 14-day police custody.

“I have given myself up to police in deference to the court order. I have been wrongly accused of evading arrest. I was not absconding as I have not committed any crime,” Arijit said after his arrest.

The son of Union minister is accused of accused of raising provocative slogans during a Ram Navami procession in Bhagalpur on March 17 which resulted in communal clashes.

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The procession was taken out allegedly without permission to celebrate the New Year as per the Hindu calendar.

The violence later spread to other parts of Bihar and Opposition leaders accused Nitish Kumar of going soft with people spreading communal violence due to his alliance with the BJP.

His former deputy and now leader of opposition Tejashwi Yadav called him a "coward".

However, reacting to the clashes, Nitish had said that he was “willing to pay any price to restore peace" and wouldn't compromise on the law and order.