Police launches crackdown on Mohammed Shahabuddin

The police on Wednesday launched crackdown against Mohammed Shahabuddin in connection with journalist Rajdeo Ranjan’s murder and raided his cell inside Siwan Jail.

Though it is still not clear whether they recovered anything from his cell but sources said that the police may take him on remand soon and interrogate him. The raid was conducted after Shahabuddin’s name surfaced as a mastermind of the murder.

The police is also trying to verify identity of those who visit former RJD MP Shahabuddin frequently in jail. Around forty mobile phones were seized from them on Wednesday while they were waiting to meet Shahabuddin.

According to Siwan based journalists, “Shahabuddin regularly holds darbar inside jail”. They recall that after Nitish Kumar came to power in 2005 he had launched similar crackdown against Shahabuddin and his men. Shahabuddin has been languishing in jail since 2003.

One of Shahabuddin’s shooter Upendra Singh has already been sent to jail. The police had picked him up last week for questioning in connection with Rajdeo Ranjan’s murder but booked him for violating excise laws.

Journalist Rajdeo Ranjan was shot dead point blank on Friday in Siwan by some unidentified shooters. The state government has already recommended CBI investigation after family members of slain journalist demanded saying that they have no faith in Bihar police.