Boy whose 'death' triggered violence, Bihar bandh found in Delhi - IBNLive

Patna: The schoolboy, whose alleged murder triggered large scale violence in Madhubani district of Bihar and prompted a statewide bandh by the opposition parties on Monday, was found in New Delhi along with a girl with whom he had reportedly eloped.

Director General of Police Abhayanand told journalists in Patna that Prashant Kumar Jha (17) and his girlfriend Priti Chaudhary, with whom he had eloped in September, were found at Mehrauli police station in New Delhi.

He said Mehrauli police station inspector Jarnail Singh had confirmed over phone to him that the two had been found. Prashant and Priti had also spoken to him over the police inspector's mobile phone and confirmed that they hailed

from Madhubani district, Abhayanand said. The Delhi police inspector said the couple were purchasing some goods from a shop at Mehrauli when an elderly person from Bihar identified them on the basis on information in the media and spoke to them to find out their antecedents.

He then phoned the police and a team from Mehrauli police station reached the spot and took the boy and girl to their custody. Prashant was assumed dead after a body was found in Madhubani last week and Jha's family members had laid claim to it. The refusal by police to handover the body to the family and subsequent dharna by its members had sparked off protests by students and general public.

It subsequently escalated to violence and arson forcing the police to open fire in which at least two persons were killed and several others injured. Opposition parties - RJD, LJP, Congress and Left parties observed a day-long bandh in the state against the police action and alleged deterioration in law and order.

(With additional information from PTI)