An MLA of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United (JDU) walked into a premier government hospital in Bhagalpur with a revolver in hand and armed bodyguards in tow, creating a furore.
The incident occurred at Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JLNMCH) on Tuesday. A video of the act of MLA Narendra Kumar Neeraj aka Gopal Mandal has gone viral on social media platforms putting a question mark on hospital administration as well as law and order in the state.
The video shows him roaming around in the emergency ward, CT scan centre and other areas of the hospital. His presence is seen inconveniencing the medical staff, patients and their attendants.
Sources said that Mandal, a four-time legislator from Gopalpur constituency, had visited the hospital to see his granddaughter, who had undergone a CT scan following some injury. They added that his presence terrorised the doctors and medical staff of the hospital.
Asked about the reasons for walking with a firearm in his hand even though his armed police bodyguards were with him, Mandal said: “It is my style. It was a Webley and Scott revolver and I have its license.”
“My life is under threat, so I carry the weapon in my hand. What will the police or administration do if I am killed? Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed by her bodyguards. Uttar Pradesh MP Phoolan Devi was shot dead at the gates of her residence. Therefore I keep firearms in my vehicle, waist and hands,” Mandal added.
The legislator refused to accept that he had violated any law and asserted that the threats to his life had increased since he had made his intentions clear to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Calls and messages to JLNMCH superintendent Uday Narayan Singh went unanswered.
Bhagalpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Anand Kumar said that the police have not received any complaint from the hospital administration on the incident.
“However, we have received a video of the said incident. We have asked the city sub-divisional police officer to probe the matter,” the SSP said.
