265 Police Personnel Fall Ill in Bihar: Accusations of Sulfas Poisoning in Snacks During Protest
Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP) Officers Protest Over Poor Food Quality
A total of 935 Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP) officers are staging a protest under the scorching sun, alleging that they were provided with substandard food. The protest began after 265 officers fell ill on Sunday after consuming a breakfast of puri, jalebi, and chana sabzi.
The affected officers were immediately admitted to the Veerpur Sub-Divisional Hospital, and all were discharged at 1 AM after receiving treatment. It is alleged that the food was contaminated with Sulphas, which caused the health issues. A packet of Sulphas was reportedly found in the kitchen, though there has been no official confirmation yet regarding the contamination of the food.
The protesting officers are still trainees. Once their training is complete and they pass the departmental examination, they will be promoted to the rank of SI (Sub-Inspector).
935 BSAP Officers Begin Hunger Strike
As of 8 AM on Monday, 935 Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP) officers stationed in Bhimnagar have begun a hunger strike. The officers have raised slogans against the commandant, demanding an improvement in food quality and a direct meeting with the IG Training.
Complaints of Poor Food Quality for the Past 1.5 Months
The soldiers have stated, “We have been here for one and a half months for PTSC training, coming from various districts of Bihar. We are served stale food daily. Despite complaints to the authorities, no action has been taken.”
Overcrowding in Training Facility
The officers allege that the training center has a capacity for 400 officers, but 935 are currently being trained. The soldiers claim they are forced to train under these overcrowded conditions and have requested an investigation by the DIG and IG.
Commandant’s Response: Everything is Fine
When the Bhaskar reporter attempted to contact Commandant Ashok Prasad, he responded through his guard, stating that everything is fine and that they will speak when necessary.
DSP Ram Naresh Paswan of the BSAP campus also mentioned that everything is fine and that they are in discussions. He assured that further details will be provided to the media.
The office of Training DIG Ashraful Haque is in Muzaffarpur, while the office of IG Training is in Patna.
