Bihar scribe murder: Police raid Siwan jail, search Shahabuddin ward, get significant leads

PATNA: In a sudden development, the police investigating the journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder case today raided the Siwna jail where RJD politician Mohammad Shahabuddin is lodged.

Reports said the police raided the jail after getting some certain leads in the case.

A local media has reported the contract killers who were present at the place of occurrence some three hours before the killing had received as many as 36 calls from the jail.

The report added the killers contacted someone inside the jail soon after the killing after which their conversations got stopped.

Reports said the raiding team also searched the ward of Shahabudidn during the extensive search operation.

As per reports, the police have recovered eight cell phones, two knives and other objectionable documents from inmates during the search operation.

Meanwhile, mora than 36 hours after Bihar government wrote to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over Siwan journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder case, country’s premier investigating agency is yet to respond.

Media reports said the CBI is still examining the state government’s request seeking the agency’s takeover of Bihar police probe into the journalist murder.

“The CBI has received a communication from the Bihar government and is examining the state’s request,” a local newspaper wrote today quoting a CBI sources.

The state government recommended for a CBI probe on late Monday evening giving in to the demands of the victim’s family who alleged they had no faith in the state police.

Informed sources, however, say the agency’s track record is not “so good” as it has been taking quite long time for investigation.

The three recent cases, such as killings of Ranveer Sena chief Brahmeshwar Mukhia, Muzaffarpur student Navruna and transporter Santosh Tekriwal are yet to be cracked by the CBI while it mishandled the case involving politicians in 1999 Gautam-Shilpi murder case.

Meanwhile, the Siwan police have detained seven more suspects in connection with the murder of Siwan journalist Ranjan. All are being interrogated, local SP Saurabh Kumar Sah told the media today.

Most of the suspects detained by the police are alleged to be close aides or sharp shooters of jailed RJD politician Mohammad Shahabuddin now lodged in Siwan jail.

One of the arrested persons reportedly told the police that the “order” to kill journalist came from the Siwan jail recently.