CPM man shot in Khagaria, 2 held

KHAGARIA/PATNA: CPM activist Radhe Singh (60) was shot dead by motorcycle-borne criminals in Khagaria district late Wednesday evening. This is the second murder of a Left party worker in the district in the last two months.
Police said the assailants fired at Singh near Patraha village under Chautham police station when he was returning home at Nirpur from Tilai Chowk on his bicycle.Singh was a member of CPM block committee.
Khagaria SDPO Alok Ranjan said on Thursday Singh was rushed to the Sadar hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. He said a countrymade pistol of .303 bore was used in the crime.
SHO Nilesh Kumar said one Ramchandra Singh and his son Saurabh Kumar were arrested. Six persons have been named as accused in the FIR lodged by the deceased’s son Ranjit Singh. The SHO said the murder was a fallout of a land dispute. Singh was accused in an Arms Act case lodged by one Manoj Singh after a video of indiscriminate firing on his rival group had gone viral a few weeks ago.
CPM district functionary Sanjay Singh, however, said the police failed to protect Radhe despite threat to his life. Radhe had met DSP Alok Ranjan on Tuesday apprehending attack on him and his family members, Sanjay revealed.
Earlier, Jagdish Chandra Basu, who had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election on a CPM ticket, was shot dead near Lootna village under Alouli police station in the district on May 12. Basu’s murder had triggered protest by local CPM activists.
CPM state secretary Awadhesh Kumar has demanded immediate arrest of the accused and Rs20 lakh compensation to the deceased’s family.