Four detained in killing of senior journalist Rajdeo Ranjan in Bihar

Ranjan, the Siwan bureau chief of a Hindi newspaper was shot dead at a busy market near the Station Road on Friday night

Four suspects have been detained in connection with the killing of a senior journalist of Hindi daily Hindustan in Bihar's Siwan district, police said on Saturday.

Rajdeo Ranjan, the Siwan bureau chief of the Hindi newspaper, which is part of the HT Media, was shot dead at a busy market near the Station Road on Friday night, a district police officer said.

"Four people have been detained for questioning in this case," the officer said.

"A manhunt has been launched to arrest the killers soon."

The Bihar Police headquarters sent a Special Task Force (STF) and Special Operations Group to Siwan late Friday night.

"We will nab the people behind the killing and will not spare any one," Bihar Police chief P K Thakur said.

Rajdeo Ranjan's family said he had no enmity with anyone and was busy preparing for the last few days to celebrate his 17th marriage anniversary.

Coming close on the heels of the killing of teenager Aditya Sachdeva in Gaya district, the murder of the journalist has been described by opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as another addition to the fast mounting proof of "the return of jungle raj in Bihar".

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has condemned the killing and directed top police officers to take prompt action in nabbing the culprits.