BJP hints at RJD leader Shahabuddin's role in Rajdeo Ranjan murder, demands CBI probe

The Bhartiya Janata Party on 14 May demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the killing of a journalist in Siwan and hinted about the alleged involvement of a jailed Rashtriya Janta Dal strongman in the murder.

Senior journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, the district bureau chief of Hindi daily Hindustan, was shot dead at Station Road under Town police station on 13 May. The police have detained three suspects in connection with the attack.

"The needle of suspicion points to a jailed bahubali (muscleman) in the murder of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan. Since such a high profile person is suspected, its a known fact that Bihar police would not be able to do justice to the case. Hence the matter should be handed over to the CBI," senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said.

Modi along with leader of opposition in Legislative Assembly Prem Kumar and state BJP chief Mangal Pandey visited the family of Ranjan,

Modi, leader of opposition in the Legislative Council, said the family of the victim also sought CBI investigation into the murder case.

The senior BJP leader claimed that recently the Superintendent of Police of Siwan furnished a list of 23 people to the state police headquarters who were "black listed" by jailed RJD strongman and former MP, Mohammad Shahbuddin, and Rajdeo Ranjans name figured in the list.

"The pattern of murder of the journalist was similar to the recent killings of BJP workers of Siwan, Srikant Bharti and Rajesh Roshan, at the behest of Mohammad Shahbuddin," he said.

BJP will organise a sit-in at Siwan on 16 May to protest the killing, said Modi. Elsewhere in the state, BJP workers would burn effigy of the state government to protest deterioration in law and order situation in Bihar, he added.

-PTI