Journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder: RJD MP Shahabuddin shifted to Bhagalpur jail

Shahabuddin's associates are under the police scanner in the murder of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan on May 13

Acting on a security audit report of Siwan central jail, the Bihar government has shifted jailed former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, whose associates are under the police scanner in the murder of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan on May 13, to Bhagalpur jail.

Shahabuddhin, convicted in a murder case and lodged in Siwan central jail for over a decade, was shifted to Bhagalpur jail hours after a notification was issued by IG Prison Anand Kishore at around 11 p.m. last night, Home Department sources said today.

District Magistrate, Siwan, Mahendra Kumar said Shahabuddin was shifted to Bhagalpur jail amid tight security arrangement following receipt of the notification.

"We had sent a security audit report to the state government apprising it of violation of jail manuals at Siwan central jail detected yesterday when dozens of people had gathered there to meet the RJD strongman," Kumar said.

Siwan's district police chief Saurav Kumar Sah had yesterday said he along with the District Magistrate had inspected the Siwan central jail premises and detected violation of jail manual as 63 people were gathered there reportedly to meet Shahabuddhin without prior permission.

The 63 people were arrested under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of IPC but were released on bail at the police station itself.

A total of 38 mobile phones were seized from those visitors, Sah said.

Fingers are being pointed at Shahabuddin, who is also member of RJD's National Executive, in the murder of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, the bureau chief of a vernacular daily, in Siwan town on May 13.

Police had detained three suspects having links with Shahabuddin but released them following interrogation as their role in the crime could not be ascertained.