Journalist killing: Nitish rejects opposition's charge of 'jungle raj' in Bihar, CBI probe recommended

The Bihar government tonight recommended a CBI probe into the May 13 killing of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan in Siwan, bowing to the wishes of his family and mounting outrage over the incident, but Chief Minister Nitish Kumar rejected opposition’s charge that ‘jungle raj’ was prevailing in the state.

State’s Home department issued a notification in this regard, a Chief Minister’s Secretariat official said. As per the notification, the state government has requested the CBI to take over the investigation of the murder case.

“In exercise of the powers conferred under section 6 of Delhi Police Establishment Act 1946 (Act 25 of 1946), the Governor of Bihar is pleased to accord his consent to exercise of powers and jurisdiction to the whole of Bihar to the members of Delhi Special Police Establishment to investigate/ supervise and inquire into the Siwan Town P.S. Case No.  362/16, dated 13.05.2015 u/s 302/120 (B)/34 IPC and 27 Arms Act which is related to Murder of reporter Rajdev Ranjan,” the notification issued by home department read.Earlier in the day, Kumar had told the media that a decision to recommend a CBI probe had been taken at the request of Ranjan’s family.

“A decision has been taken to hand over the inquiry into the killing of a journalist of a vernacular daily at Siwan to CBI at the request of his family. After completing the formalities, the recommendation for CBI investigation would be made today itself,” Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told reporters here.

The Chief Minister said no effort has been spared in investigating the killing of Rajdeo Ranjan, the Siwan district bureau chief of Hindi daily ‘Hindustan’, and in the Gaya road rage incident in which a youngster was shot dead allegedly by the son of a ruling JD(U) MLC.

The Chief Minister said he was personally saddened by the two killings. “I am in more pain over the two incidents than those shedding crocodile tears to score political points. For me the attack on the journalist at Siwan is like attack on myself.”

Kumar said he was prepared to order a CBI probe into the killing of the Gaya road rage incident victim too, if his family was not satisfied with the investigation being done by the state police.

On NDA’s allegation of return of the ‘jungle raj’ in Bihar, Kumar said it was “a pre-decided tune which they play on case to case basis”. Kumar added that he did not need any “certificate” from anybody on “rule of law”. He said the rule of law was prevailing in Bihar and would continue in future too.

In an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had called RJD ‘Rozana Jungle raj ka Dar’ (Daily fear of jungle raj) while campaigning for Bihar assembly polls, Kumar said, “People gave him a sound reply by electing Grand Secular Alliance of JD(U), RJD and Congress with over two-thirds majority.”