A journalist identified as Vimal Kumar Yadav, aged 35, was killed at his residence in Premnagar village of Bihar's Araria district early on Friday after unidentified people opened fire at him, police said. Yadav worked for a Hindi daily and as per the police, the assailants knocked at his house gates at around 5.30 am and opened fire as soon as he opened them. He died on the spot. The district police chief and the SHO of Raniganj, the concerned police station, rushed to the crime scene.


"The dead body has been sent for post-mortem. As per the preliminary investigation, an old enmity of the deceased with his neighbor is believed to be the motive. Further probe and action are being done," a tweet by Bihar Police informed.



Ashok Kumar Singh, the Superintendent of Police for Araria, also mentioned that the deceased was said to be involved in an old dispute with a neighbour. Forensic experts and the dog squad have been called in. All angles are being probed into, he said, as per news agency PTI.


"From the information received through relatives we got to know that in 2019, Vimal's younger brother was also killed. The trial was ongoing and the deceased's testimony was yet to happen. Relatives are suggesting the old feud as the reason for the murder. Araria police are on the site and investigating the matter. We will arrest the culprits soon," J.S. Gangwar, ADG, Headquarters (Bihar Police) said.



Bihar Journo Murder: Political Slugfest Over Law & Order Situation


When asked about the incident, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna said, "I felt really sad and immediately asked officials concerned to look into the incident". "The matter is being probed and the culprits will be brought to book," he asserted, as quoted by PTI.


On the other hand, the opposition BJP has lashed out at the Mahagathbandhan government and claimed the incident showed that "democracy is in danger in Bihar". "Criminals are roaming freely while innocent citizens, including journalists, and even police personnel are being killed in Bihar," alleged state BJP president Samrat Choudhary.


"Nitish Kumar is visiting Delhi and Mumbai, but he can't see crimes in Bihar. We need to give new glasses to him so that he could see that policemen and journalists are getting killed in the state, cattle smugglers have become active and a 'gunda raj' has been established," he remarked



According to PTI, Samrat Choudhary also said, "What has happened in Araria is, indeed, tragic. But such incidents have become the norm since the 'ghamandia' (arrogant) Mahagathbandhan led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad formed the government in the state."


Sharing similar views former Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan said, "Nitish Kumar and his allies keep shouting that democracy is under attack in Bihar. But they are unable to protect the fourth estate."


Citing the killing of a police officer recently in Samastipur, he alleged, "The common Bihari gave up all hopes from Nitish Kumar long back. But his government cannot protect even the police and the press", as quoted by PTI.


Union Minister Giriraj Singh criticised CM Nitish Kumar saying, "In a state where journalists and police personnel are not safe, a woman MLA doesn't find herself safe, even after this if Nitish Kumar makes visits to Delhi to become Prime Minister and talks about opposition unity, it is better he resigns.The people of Bihar will not tolerate that jungle raj returns to the state."


Alleging that the situation in Bihar has worsened again, the minister remarked, "He (CM Nitish) is unable to handle Bihar, but is set on portraying himself as a Prime Ministerial candidate."



Union Minister Pashupati Paras commented, "There is no such thing as law and order. Nobody is spared be it police, public, journalist, and politicians in Bihar. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar changed his alliance, left NDA and joined RJD against the Bihar mandate, still, he went for that alliance."


"Within nine to 10 months, there have been cases of loot, murder, bank robbery... Criminals have been emboldened," he added. 





Blaming the Nitish government, Union Minister of State Ashwini Kumar Choubey also claimed there is no law and order in Bihar. "Murders are rampant in the state. Bimal Yadav was a good journalist he was killed, some time ago his brother was murdered... Criminals have their spirits very high in Bihar. Today, Bihar is emerging as a crime state in the country. The government is being shameless about it," he remarked.




Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav dismissed the Opposition's remarks claiming, "It is the BJP's work to defame Bihar. No one would have defamed Bihar as much as the BJP has. This won't work. No matter what they say, Delhi records the highest crime rate where the Prime Minister and the President live."



"According to the NCRB record, the crime is highest in Delhi be it murder, kidnapping, rape, or loot. All this is happening in Delhi where the Police are under the Union Home Ministry," he remarked.


Meanwhile, the members of the Bihar Working Journalist Union, Patna held a protest demanding guaranteed security for journalists from the Nitish Kumar government.



More details about the case are awaited.


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