The Ranchi police on Monday claimed to solve Ranchi lawyer Manoj Jha murder case arresting main accused in the case Afsar Alam alias Lagda from Bangalore. Based on information received by Ranchi SSP, Surendra Jha a police team had gone to Karnataka Capital, nabbing Langda and his accomplice Shoaib Akhtar. The police have recovered a revolver and three cartridges from their possession.
Police said that the investigation so far has revealed that Jha the legal advisor of St Xavier’s College used to supervise the work on the 14 acres plot of land, which is a property of St Xavier’s College, in Radgaon village near Tamar in rural Ranchi.
Afsar Alam alias Langda, a local criminal of the area, along with his accomplices, had laid claim over the plot and the matter went to court. The court had given a verdict in favour of St Xavier’s College. Later, Alam and his accomplices chalked out a plan to get rid of Jha as they feared that with court verdict in favour of the College administration would spoil their reputation in the area. Lagda who wanted to sell the plot of land and distribute the money among them hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Jha.
On July 26, when Jha along with his driver was returning after overseeing the construction of boundary wall five criminals including Afsar in two bikes intercepted Jha’s car and pumped bullets on him killing him on the spot. The Ranchi police had registered a case under Sections 302, 120 B and 34 of the IPC.
Earlier, the Ranchi police in this connection had arrested five persons. The arrested persons were identified as Sonu Ansari, Imdad Ansari, Rizwan Ansari, Sanjit Manjhi and Shakil Ansari. A country-made pistol, three cartridges, a car, a bike and six mobile phones were seized from their possession.
Lawyers from Ranchi after the incident protested against the incident demanding implementation of Advocate protection act in State.
Meanwhile, in other development more than 400 lawyers from Ranchi Civil Court have filed same number of wakalatnama in Ranchi court stating that they will oppose the bail of accused in Jha murder case.
Sanjay Vidrohi a lawyer from Ranchi Court said, “The main reason behind lawyers filling such a large number of wakalatnama is to give a message that lawyers from Ranchi Court will oppose the bail petition of Afsar and other accused in case if filled in the court. Though this way, we want to express our support and solidarity in Jha murder case.”