Patna, Aug 8 (IANS) The murder of labourer Chandeshwar Chaudhary in Jogiya village under the Dinara police station area of Bihar’s Rohtas district has taken a political turn, with Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday targeting the state government over the law-and-order situation in the state.
Chandeshwar was allegedly shot dead following a dispute over unpaid wages.
His body was recovered from a canal nearly 36 hours after the incident.
The case triggered anger among villagers, who later set fire to the accused’s house and several vehicles.
Tejashwi Yadav alleged that a family belonging to a backward class was assaulted when its members went to demand their wages and that one of them was subsequently killed.
He also alleged that attempts were being made to protect those responsible for the crime.
Tejashwi said crime was increasing in Bihar and claimed that the state was gradually acquiring the image of a police state.
He added that he had already discussed the issue with Bihar Director General of Police Vinay Kumar and announced that he would visit Rohtas on Saturday to meet the bereaved family.
According to the deceased’s family, Chandeshwar and his son Deepak Chaudhary had earlier worked as herders for Ajit Tiwari.
A dispute later arose over the payment of wages.
Deepak claimed that his father owed between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000, although the other side reportedly had a different account of the outstanding amount.
According to the family, Chandeshwar was called to Ajit Tiwari’s residence on the night of the incident in connection with the wage dispute.
His son alleged that Chandeshwar was assaulted and subsequently shot.
He also alleged that the body was taken away in a vehicle and disposed of in a canal.
These allegations have been made by the deceased’s family, while police are investigating the case from all angles and will determine responsibility on the basis of evidence.
The murder sparked widespread anger in Jogiya village.
Angry villagers allegedly set fire to the accused’s house and several vehicles, including a harvester, tractor and car.
Senior police officials, including Rohtas Superintendent of Police (SP) Roshan Kumar, reached the village with additional forces and brought the situation under control.
Security was subsequently tightened in the area.
Police launched an operation to trace the accused.
According to SP Roshan Kumar, prime accused Ajit Tiwari and his son Chingari Tiwari were arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur within around four hours of the incident taking place.
They were subsequently brought to the Dinara police station for questioning.
The recovery of the victim’s body proved challenging.
Acting on information allegedly provided by Ajit Tiwari, police searched a canal near Surtapur village around 36 hours after the murder.
The water level was first reduced, following which local divers and an SDRF team conducted an extensive search.
Chandeshwar’s body was eventually recovered at around 10 a.m. on Thursday and sent for post-mortem examination.
Based on the statement of Chandeshwar’s son, Deepak Chaudhary, the police registered an FIR at Dinara police station against five named individuals and other accused persons.
Several of the named accused are reportedly absconding, and raids are being conducted at suspected locations.
Police are investigating the alleged motive, the precise role of each accused, the circumstances surrounding the killing and the subsequent disposal of the body in the canal.
Further action will be taken on the basis of the evidence collected during the investigation.
–IANS
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