By MD Mesha

NEW DELHI (TSAT) - The situation has been tense in the Indian eastern state of Bihar, bordering Nepal, as a massive mob carried out attacks on police stations after a young man was allegedly killed by the police in its custody. 

According to local media, thousands of protestors stormed on police stations in Champaran district, hours after the death of a man allegedly in custody, Hindustan Times reported. 

“Situation is tense but under control,” the daily quoted Pranav Kumar Praveen, DIG, Champaran range as saying.

So far, one police officer has been killed and three others wounded, Praveen confirmed.

The situation deteriorated in the state after a young man aged 30 was arrested by police in violation of prohibitory rules and later allegedly killed him in the custody, according to the report. 

“Custodial death in Bettiah is unfortunate, earlier too police have killed people in custody,” said Tejashwi Yadav Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly and Deputy Chief Minister.

“There’s administrative anarchy in Bihar. Assembly speaker has himself claimed that police doesn't listen to him. CM Nitish Kumar can't handle the state,” ANI quoted Tejashwi Yadav as saying.

The growing extremism in India has also encouraged the police to use force against the civilians, said the protestors. 

“This man was forcefully taken to the police station, where he collapsed owing to the beating,” said Birendra Gupta, Communist Party of India.

Attacks against Muslims and other minorities including lower caste Hindus have increased since the Hindu nationalist BJP government came into power in the country in 2014. 

The International rights organization, Human Rights Watch earlier in its report said that members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), since coming to power at the national level in May 2014, have increasingly used communal rhetoric that has spurred a violent vigilante campaign against the minorities in the country.

“Since May 2015, at least 50 people have been killed, mostly Muslims, and hundreds injured in attacks by these so-called cow protection groups, many claiming affiliations with militant Hindu groups that often have ties to the BJP,” said HRW in its report last year. 

"Police have often stalled prosecutions of the attackers, while several BJP politicians have publicly justified the attacks. In a number of cases, police have filed complaints against victims’ family members and associates under laws banning cow slaughter, leaving witnesses and families afraid to pursue justice,” it’s added.