Close on the heels of the sensational murder of an lJP leader in Patna last week, a senior leader of BJP was gunned down in Bhojpur district on Friday sparking an outburst by the Opposition parties questioning Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s zero tolerance policy on crime and accusing the Government of selectively killing leaders of rival parties.
Bihar BJP vice-president Bisheshwar Ojha was shot dead at Sonebarsa bazaar under Shahpur police station in Bhojpur district, 70 km from here, by unknown assailants. Ojha had contested last Assembly election from Shahpur constituency and was a well known political activists in the central Bihar district.
Incidentally, the murder took place at a time when the CM was holding high level meeting on the law and order for the second consecutive day and was pulling up the top brass of police for sudden increase in organised crime.
Only last week lJP’s Brijnathi Singh had been murdered in broad daylight by sophisticated weapon in the State capital and police was yet to nab the assailants. Ojha’s murder gave further ammo to the Opposition for launching blistering attack on the less than three month old Government which came in power in the last week of November 2015. The lJP has already demanded imposition of President’s rule in Bihar.
The Opposition leaders reacted sharply with Union Minister Ram Vils Paswan asking, “Is it not the jungle rajIJ” BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said during the last 12 hours two BJP activists have been killed. leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Prem Kumar said criminals were ruling the roost and a appalling condition prevailed where political activists were being selectively murdered. Former CM and Hindustani Awam Morcha founder Jitan Ram Manjhi said, “There is complete disorder and people are living terrorised.” Bihar BJP president Mangal Pandey threatened State wide agitation.
Ojha was earlier in JD(U) and in February 2005 Assembly polls his wife Shobha Devi had been fielded by JD(U) from Shahpur. However, in November 2005 polls her nomination had been rejected and BJP’s Munni Devi, who is wife of Ojha’s younger brother, contested and won. She was MlA for two terms. In November 2015 election Ojha was BJP candidate from Shahpur and he got 54,745 votes but finished second.
CM Nitish who held meeting on law and order was mainly focused on policing and strengthening the force. He told the officials for time bound investigation into cases and speedy trial of the criminals. The CM will hold meeting with all the district SPs through video-conferencing on February 17. To check the misuse of police bodyguards by those who are availing this facility, the CM ordered that instead of present district level committee an State level committee be constituted and the sanction of bodyguards be done by police headquarter. A helpline phone number under the supervision of the DGP will work 24/7, he said. The CM also ordered that the construction companies should be provided security if they ask for it.