Purnea (Bihar): A mob today (Jan 28, 2004) ransacked a police outpost, burnt files and confined the police superintendent and his deputy inside a house to protest against a dacoity committed at the house of a prominent businessman and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader of the town in Purnea, police said.

Agitated over the loot of cash and valuables worth several lakhs from the house of Vishwanath Sah early today, an irate mob confined the SP K K Verma and deputy police superintendent (DSP) B N Jha inside a house for two hours when they reached the spot to inquire about the incident.

The mob later stormed the police outpost at Madhubani bazar, burnt the records and files after sprinkling petrol on them, the police said.

The situation was controlled when district magistrate Pankaj Kumar arrived at the spot and appealed to the people to maintain calm. Lok Sabha member from Purnea Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, later, persuaded the people to free the SP and DSP and the situation was brought under control.

BJP activists led by its MLA Rajkishore Kesri also blocked the Purnea-Saharsa road at Madhubani bazar to protest against the dacoity. Shops and major business establishments remained closed during the day.

When contacted, the superintendent of police said all the police stations were alerted and raids were on at different places in the district to nab those involved in the dacoity.

Earlier, armed dacoits had looted cash and valuables totalling over Rs 10 lakh from the houses of two businessmen on Monday (Jan 26).