Slain Siwan scribe Rajdeo’s wife Asha threatened by unidenified caller

Alok Mishra

Patna: In a shocking incident, an unidentified caller rang up on the cellphone of Asha Ranjan, wife of slain Siwan  journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, on December 26, 2016, midnight and threatened to her cut into pieces if she did not withdraw her case against Sahabuddin from the Supreme Court.

It may be mentioned here that armed criminals had gunned down Rajdeo Ranjan, Siwan bureau chief of Hindi daily Hindustan near Fruit Market on Siwan Station on May 13 this year. The state government after four months of the killing recommended a CBI probe into it.

Asha later moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of probe from Siwan to Delhi. Asha had earlier expressed doubts on investigations by Bihar police. She also met Union Home minister Rajnath Singh urging him for speedy investigation into the case by the CBI, alleging delay could lead to tampering of whatever evidence. Asha had apprehended threat to herself and her family. “The matter is of serious concern to me. I am already living under threat. I fear for my children more,” she had said. The home minister had assured her that the CBI will take up the case.

Asha, a contractual teacher in a government-run school in Siwan, said she feared for her family in the backdrop of the alleged shooter Mohammad Kaif seen accompanying Shahabuddin on his release.

In her letter to Siwan SP on December 28, 2016, Aasha said that on December 26 night an unidentified caller rang her up on her cellphone asking her whether she knows Shahabuddin. She said that when she replied in affirmative, the caller told her to end up her drama and withdraw her case against him from the Supreme Court. Aasha further said that the caller asked her to stop pairvi in the said case otherwise she would be cut into pieces and nobody would be able to recognize her. She said that she is terrorized after the call and sought adequate security for her and her family members.

Asha said that though she had been provided security, it remains merely on paper. She pleaded that her entire family members are feeling insecure about their lives. When contacted, Siwan SP said that she has lodged a written complaint with the local police. He said that she is being threatened by some unknown caller and had been provided with adequate security.