Patna: Slain journalist Rajdeo Ranjan’s story on law and order had disturbed criminals. Police picks up Shahbuddin’s shooter in connection with the murder.
The gruesome killing of Siwan-based senior journalist Rajdeo Ranjan remained unsolved even after 24 hours of the incident.
Police has arrested four persons in connection with the murder including one sharp shooter Upendra Singh. Singh, a close aide of former RJD MP and Siwan don Mohammad Shahbuddin, was picked up for questioning on Saturday.
Police says Singh was involved in the murder of BJP leader Srikant Bharti in Siwan in 2014. According to journalists in Siwan, Rajdeo’s stories against deteriorating law and order situation had disturbed the criminals.
Journo deaths (Infographics)
A source close to the slain journalist said, “He used to receive threat calls from local criminals”. He said, “Due to his stories he had even made Sahabuddin his enemy.” Shahbuddin is serving a jail term in connection with cases related to murder and kidnapping.
The police is checking CCTV footage of the area where the journalist was killed. Rajdeo was cremated on Saturday in Siwan. He is survived by his wife and a son and one daughter both students. His wife is a teacher. They were to celebrate their marriage anniversary on Saturday.
Journalists protesting Ranjan’s killing demanded speedy investigation from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The incident was condemned by NDA leaders who termed the situation in Bihar as “maha jungle raj” instead of “jungle raj”.
Mounting an attack on the Chief Minister for deteriorating law and order, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar said, “Even journalists are not safe in Bihar. His stories may have angered criminals with top political connections”. Mr Modi said, “Nitish Kumar talks of good governance in Bihar but he has no control on his own ministers.”
