Fresh trouble for Bihar CM over Indigo murder

The murder of an IndiGo Airlines executive in Bihar's Patna has triggered a political backlash for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, with the opposition demanding his resignation and even leaders of his ally BJP criticizing him openly.

Patna: The murder of an IndiGo Airlines manager in Bihar's Patna has mounted fresh troubles for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and has triggered a severe backlash from the opposition parties, including its alliance partner BJP. While Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) Chief Pappu Yadav has sought a CBI probe into the murder, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has asked for Nitish Kumar's resignation.

Rupesh Kumar Singh, a manager with IndiGo airlines, who was shot at by unidentified bike-borne men in the Punaichak area of Patna on Tuesday, later died of his injuries.

Unidentified bike-borne men shot at him and he was admitted to a hospital. Singh was a high profile figure known to many politicians and bureaucrats.

BJP MP Janardhan Singh Sigriwal said that Rupesh Kumar Singh was a soft-spoken person and shared affable relations with everyone. The leader sought immediate action of the police officials and stated that assailants must be dealt in a strict manner.

Sigriwal said, "It is the duty of the police officials to instill fear among the goons. The miscreants must be given strict punishment and should not be allowed to go off easily. The assailants must be shot dead in the heart of the city. They should be given a taste of their medicine."

BJP MP Vivek Thakur has sought Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into Singh's murder, adding that police must solve the case in five days.

Echoing similar views, Pappu Yadav said, "Nitish-led NDA government in Bihar is shielding goons indulged in land, liquor and sand mafia."

Yadav said that the Chief Minister must take strict action against the culprits to bring the exacerbated law and order situation under control.

He even asserted that the JD(U) supremo must give a free hand to police and must also shuffle top police officials.

"If CM wants the crime graph in Bihar can come down drastically. And for that, Nitish Kumar must take a hard stand against miscreants sitting in the cabinet," he added.

In a series of tweets attacking the state government, opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav said "power-protected criminals killed Rupesh Kumar Singh" and "criminals are running the government in Bihar".

"This incident has taken place just two km from the Chief Minister's residence, which proves no one is safe. If Nitish Kumar is not able to control law and order, he should resign," the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader told media persons.

RJD ally Congress also renewed its attack on Nitish government and stated that Kumar should resign from the post of Chief Minister. Congress spokesperson Rajesh Rathore said that police continued to remain as mute spectators and miscreants killed the IndiGo manager in the heart of the city.

"Nitish Kumar must relinquish the post of Home Minister as his government is only good in talking but has failed in action," Rathore said.