On the night of May 20, 2024, a mob of about 140 individuals carried out an attack on a local police station in Bihar, leading to the release of four people who had been arrested earlier that day for alleged involvement in fake voting. This incident occurred in the Madhubani Lok Sabha constituency, specifically at polling station number 85 in Deuda Bandhauli, Darbhanga district.

Earlier in the day, "some women in burqas were caught casting fraudulent votes" at the polling station. The suspicious activity prompted police officers to intervene, resulting in the detention of one Muslim man, identified as Sanaullah, and three Muslim women. This action sparked immediate upheaval at the voting booth, culminating in a chaotic scenario.

Subsequently, on the very same night, an enraged mob forcefully entered the police station where the suspects were held. The mob, comprising approximately 140 people, overpowered the police and managed to free "Sanaullah and three others" who had been taken into custody earlier for the voting fraud.

In response to this severe breach of law and order, the local police authorities have established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to thoroughly investigate the incident.

As the situation at Jale police station escalated, the unfolding events attracted the attention and concern of the local community and politicians alike. It was reported that approximately "150 Muslims gathered at the station in the evening", along with several political figures, in response to the detention of four individuals involved in a voting discrepancy. Despite the ongoing legal processes and interrogations stated by the station officer, the crowd grew increasingly discontent and agitated.

Jale, a locality situated in Bihar's Darbhanga district but falling under the Madhubani Lok Sabha constituency, became the focal point of this electoral controversy. The individuals in question were apprehended at "Haqqania Madrasa Deora Bandhauli", a polling booth managed by the Jale police station, after they were caught engaging in fraudulent voting activities.

As the evening progressed, the crowd's unrest turned into outright chaos. The "150 Muslims" who initially gathered morphed into a larger group, inciting further uproar within the premises of the police station. This escalated until, at 2 AM, the mob took a decisive action by forcibly freeing the four detainees involved in the fake voting incident. The act of freeing the detainees was not just a simple release; it was marked by celebrations and disruptive behavior inside the station, which added to the already tense atmosphere.

Caught off guard and outnumbered, the police personnel at Jale police station found themselves powerless to stop the mob. As the crowd celebrated the release of the four accused, the officers could only watch as the rule of law was momentarily overridden by mob rule.

Upon receiving the urgent news of the mob attack, key law enforcement officers, including Darbhanga Superintendent of Police Jagunath Reddy, City SP Shubham Arya, SDPO, and Sadar SDO, quickly made their way to the Jale police station. Their prompt presence was crucial in managing the aftermath of the incident and initiating an immediate investigation.

The officers conducted a thorough review of the CCTV footage, which was instrumental in identifying the perpetrators involved in the attack and the release of the detainees. This led to the filing of an FIR against 24 individuals, explicitly naming those who were involved, including the initially detained bogus voters.

The FIR details the events that unfolded on May 20th. Sector Officer Nirbhay Kumar, while on patrol duty during the voting process, apprehended four individuals—Sanaullah, Sadia Sheikh, Saleha Fatima, and Zeenat Parveen. These residents of Deora Bandhauli were found engaging in fraudulent voting activities. Following their capture, they were turned over to the police, leading to their initial detention at the Jale police station before the mob intervened.

This documented sequence of events, formalized in the FIR under case number 103/24, establishes a clear narrative of the breach of electoral integrity and the subsequent law enforcement response aimed at restoring order and pursuing legal action against those involved in undermining the election process.

In a concerning turn of events, reports indicate that a large mob, consisting of approximately "130-140 people," launched a coordinated attack on the Jale police station. The primary objective of this mob was to forcefully liberate "the four arrested persons" who had been detained earlier for fraudulent voting. During the incident, it was reported that the crowd not only succeeded in releasing the detainees but also "misbehaved with police officials," exacerbating the severity of the situation.

Following this alarming breach of security, the police took decisive action. An FIR was promptly registered against "24 named people and over a hundred unnamed people" involved in the attack. This event rapidly gained significant attention, partly due to the circulation of video footage related to the incident on social media. This footage, which depicts the aggressive actions of the mob at the police station, has gone viral, leading to widespread public scrutiny.

In response to this critical situation, the Darbhanga Police officially confirmed the attack. A detailed statement from the police noted that the FIR was lodged based on the complaint filed by the in-charge of Jale Police Station. This complaint led to charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including "Sections 147/148/149/323/324/225/353/354(B)/504 IPC." These sections cover offenses ranging from rioting and assault to obstructing public servants and criminal intimidation, reflecting the serious nature of the mob's actions.

To ensure a thorough investigation into this egregious violation of law and order, the Darbhanga Police have established a Special Investigation Team (SIT). This team, under the leadership of the Darbhanga Superintendent of Police (SP), is actively conducting raids and operations to apprehend the accused individuals involved in the incident.

In a detailed conversation with Zee News, Senior Superintendent of Police, Jagunath Reddy, shed light on the unsettling events of election day. He revealed that "four individuals were detained for bogus voting on election day." This action was initiated following a formal complaint lodged by the sector officer at Jale police station, indicating a proactive approach to maintaining electoral integrity.

During the process of interrogation, the situation escalated dramatically when "a crowd of 130-140 people forcibly took the detainees away." This alarming breach was captured on the police station's CCTV system, which played a crucial role in the subsequent legal proceedings. Based on this footage, "24 individuals were identified and named in the FIR," with an additional "130 unidentified individuals" also included, highlighting the scale of the mob's involvement and the challenges faced by the police in restoring order.

The context of these events is further complicated by political tensions in the area. Just days before this incident, a Congress leader allegedly made a contentious appeal to voters of a particular community to engage in what was termed 'vote jihad.' This statement has sparked considerable controversy and criticism, particularly from the BJP, which has publicly condemned the Congress for the remarks and the perceived encouragement of electoral malpractice.