Senior journalist shot dead in Siwan

Siwan (Bihar): A senior journalist with Hindi daily Hindustan, Rajdeo Ranjan (42), was on Friday allegedly shot dead by criminals near the Siwan railway station in Bihar.

Two bullets were fired at the Siwan bureau chief of the daily that hit on his head and neck. He was shifted to a hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

According to police, reported Hindustan Times, five motorcycle-borne criminals were waiting for Ranjan, who was walking down the road to his home, and shot him twice.

Questioning Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s silence over the journalist’s murder, Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy told ANI the situation in Bihar has gone beyond “Jungle Raj”.

Criticising the murder, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain told ANI, “It has never been this bad in Bihar, this is not ‘Jungle Raj’, this is ‘Maha Jungle Raj’. Nitish Kumar should look after Bihar instead of worrying about Varanasi.”

Former Bihar deputy chief minister and BJP senior leader Sushil Kumar Modi told ANI, “Even as Manorama Devi’s episode is yet to settle down, attacks on journalists are really troubling.”

The ruling party JD (U) leader Ajay Alok, however, told ANI that the government would nab the culprits within 48 hours. “No matter who the criminals are, the government is determined to hunt them down within 48 hours.” (ANI)