A criminal from Bhagalpur district in Bihar, reportedly shaken by the increasing frequency of police encounters, immersed his firearm into the flowing Ganga after offering prayers to deities and taking a vow to reform himself along the riverbank on Wednesday. The incident has triggered widespread reactions across the state.
The Incident and Context
The development comes amid a surge in police encounters in Bihar following Samrat Choudhary's oath as chief minister last month. The criminal, identified as Kailash Mandal, had recently been released from jail and faces multiple criminal charges, including murder, extortion, and loot.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, Mandal is seen sitting on the bank of the Ganga, offering prayers with the assistance of a priest. Sporting large sandalwood marks on his forehead, he is then seen holding a pistol, chanting Vedic mantras, and taking a pledge never to take up arms again.
“From now on, I won’t pick up arms in hand in future and will thoroughly rely on God,” Mandal says loudly before throwing his firearm into the Ganga. “Now, I will never return to the path of crime and will lead a normal life,” he repeats further.
Political Reactions
However, his act drew strong reactions from political parties, including the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party. “We request the masses not to invite criminals at social functions and boycott them. Things will change if they start socially boycotting them,” said BJP minister for revenue and land reforms Dilip Kumar Jaiswal on Thursday.
JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar added, “Just throwing arms in Ganga is not enough. He will have to surrender and face the law of the land.” He emphasized that people have begun to feel the power of law.
Rising Encounters in Bihar
The state has witnessed seven encounters since Samrat Choudhary took over as chief minister of Bihar last month. Of these, two criminals were shot dead in police encounters, while the rest were shot in the legs and are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals.
The incident has sparked a debate on social media, with some praising Mandal's decision to reform, while others view it as a stunt to evade legal consequences. The police have not yet commented on whether Mandal will face any action for possessing the illegal firearm.
