Bihar Journalist Death: 4 Of 8 Accused Held, Father Says Vimal Told Police About Threat To Life

Bihar police has arrested four of the eight accused in connection with the murder of a journalist in Araria.

Bihar Journalist Death: Four of the eight accused in connection with the murder of a Bihar journalist have been arrested while two are still on the run. Araria SP Arun Kumar Singh said that two of the accused are already in judicial custody in another case and have a criminal history. Those arrested have been identified as Vipin Yadav, Bhavesh Yadav, Ashish Yadav and Umesh Yadav while Rupesh Yadav and Kranti Yadav are already in jail. Police said they will be taking the jailed accused on remand while a hunt is on to nab the remaining two.

Notably, 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. As per the information, Yadav worked for a Hindi daily and 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.

"Out of the eight accused four accused have been arrested. Two of the accused are in judicial custody in another case...The accused have a criminal history. The teams are raiding to nab the other two accused..," said Araria SP Arun Kumar Singh.

JDU leader Neeraj Kumar slammed the opposition and said that police arrested the accused within 24 hours. "...raids were conducted in jail after victim's family members gave names of suspect...thorough probe was done. Opposition must talk about that as well not just about the crime," he said.

Meanwhile, the father of the victim said that Vimal had informed the police that there was a threat to his life some 3-4 days before the incident. He claimed that his son also sought protection from the police. 

"... Vimal had told the Police that there is a threat to his life, 3-4 days before he had requested Police protection", he said. Expressing his anguish, the journalist's father said what is the point of any security now that his son is already dead.

On the other hand, BJP leader Janardan Singh Sigriwal lashed out at law and order situation in Bihar and said the state is in chaos and CM Nitish Kumar is responsible for it.

"The crime in Bihar is at its peak. Everyone is scared and those who protect us, are not safe either. SHO was killed; a journalist was murdered. Bihar is in a state of chaos and the CM (Nitish Kumar) is fully responsible for this," he said.