Congress demands CBI probe in MP journalist's murder

The Madhya Pradesh unit of the Congress party on Monday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder of journalist Sandeep Kothari allegedly by sand mafia. The victim, who used to write for a Jabalpur-based Hindi daily, used to raise issues of illegal mining. He had also reportedly filed a case against some persons in a local court.

According to the police, the accused allegedly kidnapped and set him ablaze. The victim's charred body was recovered from Vardha district of Maharashtra on Sunday. Meanwhile, state Home Minister Babulal Gaur said a special investigation team had been constituted by the Balaghat superintendent of police and there was no need for a CBI probe. The Congress also has constituted a three-member committee of MLAs - Hina Kanwre, Madhu Bhagat and Sanjay Uike, said Leader of Opposition Satyadev Katare.

Residents of Sandeep's hometown Katangi of Balaghat staged a protest, which brought the locality's normal life to a standstill. The victim's family placed his body in front of the local police station and demanded a CBI probe. "Two persons have been arrested in connection with the murder and one is absconding," Neeraj Soni, additional SP said.

"Those who committed the crime seem to be involved in illegal mining," sources in the police said.

According to police sources, Kothari was heading to Umri village on June 19 with his friend Lalit on his bike. The accused had hit Sandeep by a four-wheeler and knocked him down. Lalit escaped and reported the matter to the police. The police have also seized the vehicle used for kidnapping Kothari.