This story is from August 31, 2019

Government orders probe into contractor’s death in Gopalganj

The state government on Friday ordered an inquiry into the death of a Gopalganj-based contractor, Ramashankar Singh, who was allegedly set on fire by a chief engineer of water resources department and his associates on Thursday.
Government orders probe into contractor’s death in Gopalganj
Representative image
PATNA: The state government on Friday ordered an inquiry into the death of a Gopalganj-based contractor, Ramashankar Singh, who was allegedly set on fire by a chief engineer of water resources department and his associates on Thursday.
Gopalganj DM Animesh Kumar Parashar said high level teams of water resources department and state police headquarters visited Gopalganj on Friday and initiated separate investigations.

Parashar had earlier ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident on the request of the deceased contractor’s family. “I personally met the father and the son of the contractor and promised impartial investigation,” the DM told this newspaper over the phone.
He added, “Scientific evidences are being collected to ascertain the truth. Forensic teams have visited the spot and collected evidences. A high level team of the CID from the police headquarters is camping at Gopalganj. The officials of economic offences unit have also joined the investigation.”
Altogether eight people, including chief engineer of water resources department Murlidhar Singh, have been named as accused in the FIR lodged with the Gopalganj town police station in connection with the incident. However, all the eight accused are absconding.
Gopalganj SDPO Naresh Paswan said the FIR was lodged on the statement of the deceased contractor’s son Rana Singh. In the FIR, Rana alleged that the incident took place when his father had gone to the chief engineer’s newly constructed bungalow at Gandak Colony to discuss the matter related to his pending bills.

“The engineer and his associates confined my father in the guard room of the quarter, poured petrol on his body and set him on fire after a verbal duel over payment of bills,” Rana alleged in the police complaint.
The contractor was rushed to Gopalganj sadar hospital from where he was referred to Gorakhpur, where he succumbed to his burn injuries. Besides Murlidhar, superintending engineer Jitendra Kumar Singh, executive engineer Satyendra Kumar and five others have also been made named accused in the case.
Rana further alleged that the chief engineer had earlier threatened his father with dire consequences when he pestered for payment of pending bills. “The chief engineer was demanding a bribe of Rs 15 lakh, which he (Ramashankar) refused. This prompted the chief engineer to take the extreme step,” Rana claimed.
SDPO Paswan said, “All the accused are absconding. Raids are being conducted in Gopalganj, Kaimur and Rohtas districts to arrest them. The prime accused, Murlidhar, is a native of Rohtas and executive engineer Satyendra hails from Kaimur.”
Ramashankar, the managing director of Ashiana Contract Private Ltd, was awarded the contract of constructing the chief engineer’s official bungalow at an estimated cost of Rs 1.85 crore. However, the expenses exceeded and went up to Rs 2.62 crore. The contractor was, however, paid only Rs 1.2 crore.
An investigating officer said the chief engineer had promised to pay Rs 28 lakh when the contractor and his son had met him on June 10. In the meantime, the engineer occupied the bungalow with his family and started living there. “All the files related to the construction of the house have been seized by the police,” he added.
Gopalganj SP Rasheed Zaman said a special investigation team has been set up to crack the case.
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