Jharkhand sets up SIT to probe Congress leader's murder

The Jharkhand government on Wednesday set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the murder of Congress leader Shankar Yadav in a bomb blast, an official statement said.

"Jharkhand Chief Minister (Raghubar Das) has ordered to constitute an SIT to probe into the murder of Shankar Yadav," said the statement, adding that the CID will assist the SIT, which will be headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Karamphal Oraon.

Shankar Yadav, the Congress unit chief of Koderma district, was killed in a blast while travelling in his vehicle on Tuesday evening. The blast also seriously injured the driver and bodyguard and the latter also succumbed to his injuries.

Police in Koderma have detained two people in connection with the murder.

The supporters of the murdered Congress leader blocked the Ranchi-Patna national highway for eight hours on Wednesday morning, leading to a five-km-long jam. However, the blockade was removed after they were told that an SIT has been set up to probe the murder.

According to police sources, rivalry related to stone mines is said to be the reason behind the murder. Shankar Yadav was also attacked three months back and injured, leading to him being hospitalised for several days.

Meanwhile, state Congress President Ajay Kumar reached Koderma and expressed unhappiness over the poor law and order situation prevailing in the state.

Congress activists also burnt the effigy of the state government, while it and the other opposition parties have claimed that political killings have increased during the rule of the present BJP government.

--IANS

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