Patna,(BiharTimes): A case has been registered against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate from Maharajganj, Prabhunath Singh, and his supporters for allegedly snatching a trainee IAS officer’s video camera after he stopped a vehicle in Lalu Prasad’s motorcade at Bhagwanpur Bazaar in Siwan district of the state on Monday. He also reportedly threatened to put acid in the eyes of the said official.

The FIR was lodged by District Agriculture Officer (DAO) Bharat Prasad Singh for abusing and misbehaving with government officers besides creating hurdles in government work and violating election rules.

Reports said that Prabhunath had forcibly snatched the trainee IAS officer Alok Ranjan Ghosh’s camera as he was recording checking of the vehicle, carrying the RJD candidate’s posters.

The DAO said the vehicle was stopped as no permit of poll duty was pasted on its windscreen. After initial inquiry, Ghosh started filming the checking, which revealed the vehicle was being used for the campaigning of the RJD candidate without necessary permit. He said the vehicle was carrying large number of posters and handbills of the RJD candidate.

Singh said that while they were engaged in checking, one of the vehicle occupants informed Prabhunath over cell phone. The RJD candidate, along with 200 supporters, reached the spot within 20 minutes.

Singh also alleged that they not only abused and publicly humiliated the officials, but also threatened to pour acid in the eyes. He said they also took away the vehicle they had seized.

According to Siwan district magistrate Gopal Meena the trainee IAS was allowed to use his personal video camera for official work during the election. The snatched camera, according to him, was worth Rs 35,000.

Reports based on eye-witnesses’ account said Prabhunath accused officials of being soft on NDA leaders, who he alleged, were moving around in Maharajganj in cars fitted with red beacons in violation of the poll code.