Much before the CBI started its probe, the police made a major breakthrough in the sensational murder of Siwan journalist Rajdeo Ranjan on May 13 by arresting five shooters and also seized firearms and bikes used in the crime.
Additional Director General (ADG) of Police Sunil Kumar said here on Wednesday the shooters revealed that they had committed the crime at the instruction of notorious criminal laddan Mian. The arrested men Rohit Kumar, Vijay Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, Rishi Kumar and Sonu Kumar Gupta, all in their mid-20s, belonged to different places in Siwan district. Rohit is supposed to be the main shooter. The firearms were being sent to the forensic science laboratory, the senior cop said.
With the name of laddan Mian coming into focus, the needle of suspicion once again pointed towards RJD strongman and five-time MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, who had recently been transferred to Bhagalpur Central Jail from Siwan District Jail where he was lodged for over a decade. laddan is supposed to be close to the RJD leader and is also accused in the murder of BJP MP Om Prakash Yadav’s local representative Bharti last year.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said everyone should have faith in the police. “The people have faith in police but there are some people who have no faith and they have habit of misinterpreting the matters,” he said and added that police would crack the case and whosoever was found involved in the crime would not go scot-free and strict action would be taken against them.
Kumar said the main accused laddan Mian was still absconding. He also said that the CBI had started its preliminary investigation into the case. “Some accused persons have been arrested and more arrests would be made soon,” he added.
Asked about any conspiracy behind the murder, the ADG said the conspiracy angle was still not clear but the police inquiry was in right direction. “On the basis of the circumstantial evidence if the name of any particular person crop up, we will take action. Those absconding will also be arrested and the police will be able to ascertain all the angles,” he said.
Opposition parties’ leaders from day one had been accusing Shahabuddin for the murder of Ranjan, who was bureau chief of Hindustan in Siwan, and demanding his shifting outside Siwan. The decision to transfer him was taken when the Siwan DM and SP searched the jail premises and found a crowd huddled to meet the jailed leader who had been holding darbar at the main entrance of the prison twice a week where local traders and contractors made a beeline to air their grievances and seek his help for solution.