The Navaratri celebrations at a temple in Bihar's Sasaram district turned ugly on Monday, when an agitated mob became violent over poor arrangements at the venue and set a Bihar cabinet Minister's official vehicle on fire.
Art and culture minister Vinay Bihari was attending the cultural programme arranged at Tarachandi temple to celebrate Navaratri. He not only inaugurated the programme but also sang religious songs.
However, the religious event turned into a riot after dissatisfied and agitated mob started pelting stones and bricks at the police and the stage where other well-known folk singers were scheduled to perform.
The people who had gathered at the temple for the celebrations were reportedly unhappy with the acoustics and sitting arrangements, The Times of India reported.
The incident occurred in the presence of Rohtas DM and SP Chandan Kumar Kushwaha. As the minister and other officials were targeted, police had to resort to caning the angry mob. Bihari, however, managed to escape from the venue along with other officials.
"Had I not hidden myself under the dais for over two hours, I would have been roasted alive," he said. "I applied my mind and preferred braving stones to being burned by coming out of hiding and running away towards the road."
The police have filed an FIR against at least 500 people present at the incident and arrested six others. Police are investigating the matter on orders of Bihari, who claimed it to be a conspiracy against him.
