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Bihar BJP leader shot dead

Khagaul (Bihar), April 30
Senior BJP leader Satyanarain Sinha was shot dead allegedly by RJD workers at a village in Patna district today, provoking violence in the area that left eight persons, including six policemen, injured.

The gunning down of Mr Sinha, hours after the killing of RJD leader Ranvir Yadav’s nephew who had reached Patna to take part in the ‘lathi rally’ last night by unidentified gunmen, led to violence and arson by the BJP leader’s supporters.

Senior Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar told newsmen that RJD rallyists stopped Mr Sinha’s car, dragged him out and shot him dead at Jamaluddin Chak village in Khagaul subdivision of Patna district.

The RJD activists led by local panchayat mukhia Reet Lal Yadav allegedly opened fire on Mr Sinha, killing him, while the BJP leader’s men fired back, Mr Kumar said.

Mr Sinha, who had contested the last byelection from Danapur against RJD candidate Ramanand Yadav, had a running feud with Mr Reet Lal Yadav, he said.

After Mr Sinha’s death, his supporters went on the rampage, stoning the police and setting ablaze 14 vehicles, including buses, jeeps and private cars. They also gheraoed the Jamalauddin Chak ancestral residence of the father-in-law of Misa Bharti, the eldest daughter of RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav and Chief Minister Rabri Devi, Mr Kumar said.

The police, however, dispersed the mob at Jamaluddin Chak.

The police fired 20 rounds after the mob blocked the Danapur-Patna road and set ablaze vehicles, the SSP said.

A number of mediapersons were also targeted by the mob with an attempt made to snatch the camera of a private TV channel.

Meanwhile, the police is on the trail of Sinha’s body which has been allegedly forcibly taken away by his relatives and supporters to his home village of Sharari, he said. The body is required for a post mortem by the police.

Meanwhile, the Bihar unit of the BJP called for a Khagaul bandh tomorrow. PTI

RJD vows to fight fascist forces

Bihar police personnel try to save themselves from anti-lathi rally activists in Patna on Wednesday. — PTI photo