Ranchi, March 23: BJP legislator from Jharia Sanjiv Singh has been named in the murder of former Deputy Mayor of Dhanbad and Congress leader Neeraj Singh and an FIR filed against him, the state police said.
The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged by Abhishek Singh, brother of the late Neeraj Singh, against five persons, including BJP lawmaker Sanjiv Singh, according to a police officer here.
The state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the killing. Police sources say that the murder may be the outcome of a family feud.
Neeraj Singh belonged to the family of coal mafia Suraj Deo Singh.
Neeraj Singh and his three aides comprising of his personal assistant Ashok Yadav, bodyguard Munna Tiwary and driver Gholtu, were shot dead on the evening of March 21 by unidentified gunmen near Singh’s residence at Steel Gate under Saraidhela police station.
Neeraj Singh had contested against Sanjiv Singh, his cousin, from Jharia in 2015 Assembly election. In January, a close supporter of Sanjiv Singh was gunned down at Steel Gate in which Neeraj Singh was made an accused.
In a press conference today, Sanjiv Singh denied that he was anyway linked to the killing of Neeraj Singh. He said that he did not know why he was made an accused in the case but was ready to face any investigation. He also demanded a high level probe into the incident by the state government.
According to the post-mortem examination report, more than 20 bullets were pumped into Neeraj Singh who was cremated on Wednesday.
The supporters of Neeraj Singh today called for a shutdown in Dhanbad. Shops and schools were closed. The state Congress meanwhile demanded a CBI probe in the murder.
Normal life was today affected in the coal city of Dhanbad following a bandh called by Congress to protest against the killing of party leader Neeraj Singh and three others.
Railway passengers were stranded at Dhanbad station as private and public vehicles were off the road.
Bandh supporters burnt tyres at different places of NH-31 that crosses through the city. Business establishments remained closed while examinations in educational institutes were cancelled, officials said.
No untoward incident was reported in connection with the bandh which was supported by JMM, JD(U), Marxists Coordination Committee and Jharkhand Vikash Morcha.