Tension gripped the coal capital of Jharkhand after the gruesome killing of former Deputy Mayor Neeraj Singh along with his three aides yesterday evening. Under heavy security arrangements the funeral procession of the slain Congress leader was carried out in Dhanbad on Wednesday as disgruntled over the high profile killing, Congress Party called a day long ‘Dhanbad Bandh’ on Friday demanding immediate arrest of the persons involved in it.
DGP DK Pandey, acting swiftly over the incident formed a Special Investigation Team headed by ADG (CID) Ajay Kumar Singh and a team of Forensic Science experts was also rushed to Dhanbad to investigate the incident. Police, however, are tightlipped on the issue.
“We are looking into all possible angles including war of domination, family feud and political rivalry….. Only after which we will reach a conclusion,” said ADG (CID) Ajay Kumar Singh. He said that no FIR was lodged in this regard till late in the evening.
Taking it as a challenge for Dhanbad Police Bokaro DIG Saket Kumar Singh, assured that police alongwith the SIT, will find out the culprits involved in the shootout soon.
“Police Headquarters is monitoring the case; we are also here to assist the SIT formed by the DGP to investigate the case. The investigation is still going on and we believe that the culprits will be arrested soon. It is a challenge for all of us and we will try to find out each and every details related to this incident,” said Singh. All the three angles – shooter, supporter and conspiracy are being looked into, he added.
JPCC Chief Sukhdeo Bhagat alleging the State Government of becoming helpless in front of the criminals said that the police intelligence has completely failed in Jharkhand.
“If we look some of the incidents which recently took place in the last 2-3 years, it seems there is nothing like law and order in this state and this Government looks helpless in front of the criminals. And we have called ‘Dhanbad Bandh’ on Friday against this incident and demand immediate arrest of everyone who are involved in this incident,” said Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee President Sukhdeo Bhagat.
JMM Spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya also alleged that policing has completely failed and criminalization has increased manifold in this State. He confirmed that his party extends all support to the ‘Dhanbad Bandh’ called by the Congress Party.
Meanwhile, thousands of people thronged on to take last glance of their leader who was later cremated at Mohalbani Ghat in Dhabad under tight security on Wednesday.
Neeraj Singh, 37, a Congress leader, died along with three others who were with him inside the SUV, adding yet another chapter to gang wars that erupt intermittently in the country’s coal capital. Neeraj Singh too was accused in several criminal cases, including murder.
Neeraj Singh reportedly had a bitter political rivalry with his cousin and Jharia BJP legislator Sanjeev Singh. Neeraj contested the 2014 Assembly elections against Sanjeev Singh from Jharia on Congress
ticket but lost to him. Sanjeev Singh’s security has
been stepped up after the incident.