Bihar's business community demand better security

The industrialists and businessmen in Bihar on Monday demanded security from the state government in view of the killing of several business persons in the state, officials said.

Fear runs high among the businessmen in Bihar after the killing of more than half a dozen businessmen including an young industrialist in the state in the last two weeks.

They have demanded security at an Udhmi Panchayat held here which was attended by Bihar Industry Minister Jai Kumar Singh.

Singh assured the industrialists and businessmen that the government would protect them and provide them security.

In the last one month, industrialists, businessmen and traders have been soft targets of criminals in Bihar.

The latest victim, also a businessman, was gunned down in broad daylight on Sunday in Vaishali district.

Criminals also opened fire in Buxar district on Sunday to create an environment of fear after the businessmen refused to pay them 'rangdari' tax.

Contrary to the claims of good governance by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, several businessmen have been shot dead in broad day light in different parts of the state.

Angry over the killings, hundreds of businessmen and traders took out a candle march in Patna on December 24. Bihar Opposition Leader Tejashwi Yadav had joined the march.

Protesting businessmen and traders shouted slogans and demanded the arrest of the criminals involved in the killings.

Gunjan Khemka, an industrialist, was shot dead on December 20 in Hajipur in Vaishali district, leading to panic among businessmen and traders of the area.

Khemka, son of Patna's well-known businessman Gopal Khemka, was targeted when he was going to his factory in Hajipur, about 30 km from Patna.

Police are yet to make any breakthrough. Twenty-four hours after Khemka's killing, four businessmen, including K.P. Shahi, the owner of Shahi construction company, was shot dead in Darbhanga district.

Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) and HAM leaders have criticised Nitish Kumar for the rise in crime, and collapse of law and order.

They have also questioned Nitish Kumar's claims on improvement in law and order in the state.

--IANS

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