Bihar Journalist Murder: Man Who Allegedly Ordered Killing Surrenders

Siwan, Bihar: Laddan Miyan, a gangster and prime suspect in the murder of a journalist in Bihar last month, has surrendered before a court in Siwan. He is a close associate of Mohammad Shahbuddin, a former lawmaker from Lalu Yadav's RJD and now in jail.

Rajdeo Ranjan, bureau chief at the Siwan office of leading Hindi daily Hindustan, was shot dead while he was driving past a busy fruit market on his motorbike on May 13.

The police have alleged that five men arrested in connection with the murder have told them during interrogation that Azharuddin Beg alias Laddan Miyan had paid them Rs 15,000 to kill Mr Ranjan.

Laddan Miyan, who has been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, denied involvement in the journalist's murder. "I have nothing to do with Rajdeo's killing. I was wrongly framed in the case by the police," he told reporters in court as he was being sent to jail.

He surrendered three days after a court ordered that his properties be attached if he did not give himself up.

Miyan was till late April in Siwan jail, where Mohammad Shahabuddin too was lodged. Shahbuddin, who has been in jail for over a decade for charges including kidnapping and murder, was shifted to Bhagalpur jail from Siwan after Mr Ranjan's murder.

The police said they have recovered the country-made pistol used to kill the journalist from a man called Rohit Kumar, who, they alleged, has confessed to having shot the journalist.
The Bihar government of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has recommended a CBI probe into the journalist's murder.