CBI readies for probe into Ranvir Sena chief's murder

The special Crime Branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation has begun the process to take over investigations into murder of Brahmeshwar Singh, head of banned caste-based militia Ranvir Sena in Bihar.

Singh was killed in Bhojpur district in the early morning of 1 June.

Sources in the CBI said that the investigating agency has received a request from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for CBI inquiry into Brahmeshwar Singh’s murder.

“We are taking over the case,” a senior CBI official said.

Singh was on a morning walk when he was accosted by gunmen who shot him multiple times, killing him on the spot at Katira Mohalla under Nawada police station, 71 kms from Patna.

Singh alias Mukhiyaji, who was earlier facing life imprisonment in various criminal cases, was acquitted and released from jail in April this year.

As the head of the Ranvir Sena, a private militia of upper caste landlords, Singh was accused of being responsible for perpetrating several caste-based killings including the Laxmanpur-Bathe massacre in which 61 persons were killed in December 1996. He was also suspected to have been involved in other massacres that took place in the districts of Jahanabad, Aurangabad and Nawada in 1990s.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar transferred the case to the CBI after political pressure and supporters of Singh indulged in rioting and arson for days after his murder.

A special investigation team of the Bihar police has arrested the close aide of Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Sunil Pandey from Jamshedpur in Jharkhand on 5 June.