Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara : The journalists, social workers, politicians and doctors staged a day long dharana on in front of the office of Bhojpur DM on April 6, 2018, at Ara in protest against murder of two scribes : Navin Singh and Vijay Singh of village Bagwa under Garhani police station, near village Nahasi on Ara-Sasaram main road on March 25, 2018, late evening. The journalists got agitated when DM Sanjeev Kumarrefused to meet their delegation and raised slogans against him.
Their main demands of the protesters included CBI inquiry into the murder of the slain reporters, speedy trial of the case, steps to ensure security of the journalists and check on unnecessary interference by the officials in their working. Later, a memorandum was sent to CM Nitish Kumar. Addressing the gathering, the journalists said that they were being attacked frequently but nothing was being done by the Bhojpur district administration to check such incidents.
Two journalists: Navin Singh, block level reporter of a Hindi daily, and Vijay Singh, reporter of a magazine, were returning home on a motorcycle in the late evening on March 25, 2018. When they reached near Nahasi Mor on Ara-Sasaram main road under Garhani police station, a speeding Scorpio dashed their motorcycle from behind killing both the journalists on the spot. The miscreants allegedly themselves set ablaze their Scorpio with a view to erase evidence.
A named FIR was lodged with Garhani police station against Harshu Mian, husband of a former mukhia, Shaheeda Praveen, his son Dabloo and two others. Harshu Mian had a heated exchange with Navin. Harshu later he himself drove the Scorpio and allegedly dashed the bike Navin was riding. Police arrested Harshu Mian on March 26, 2018, while his son Dabloo Mian surrendered before the court under mounting police pressure. Both were sent to jail.