CBI to probe Siwan scribe Rajdeo Ranjan murder case

Alok Mishra

Patna: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would soon start investigation into the sensational murder of Siwan journalist Rajedo Ranjan murder. The CBI, according to police sources in Siwan, has given its nod to probe the Rajdeo Ranjan murder case.

Sources said that a CBI team would soon reach Siwan and take over the investigation of the case and added the CBI sleuths had also contacted Siwan SP Saurabh Kumar and sought details of the case from him. When contacted, Siwan SP Saurabh Kumar refused to provide any detail in this connection. Rajdeo’s wife Aasha Ranjan had recently reached Delhi and met Union Home minister Rajnath Singh for CBI probe into the murder of her husband.

It may be mentioned here that senior journalist and bureau chief of Hindi daily ‘Hindustan’ Rajdeo Ranjan was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Siwan on May 13. Ranjan, 42, was fired at when he was travelling on his motorcycle near Fruit Market on Station Road at around 7:45 pm. The bullets hit Ranjan on the head and neck and he died on the way to Siwan sadar Hospital. Ranjan had persistently written against law-breakers of the area. Reports said the assailants were on two bikes.

Five persons: Rohit Kumar, Vijay Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, Vishu Kumar and Sonu Kumar Gupta, all in their 20s, were arrested in this connection. Laddan Mian, considered close to former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, had allegedly hired the killers. But,  police are yet to find evidence directly linking Shahabuddin with the murder. The 7.65 mm bore countrymade pistol used in the crime was recovered from Sonu’s house. Police had also seized three motorcycles used by the accused. All the accused are from Siwan.