Patna: The murder of IndiGo Airlines Manager Rupesh Kumar Singh has sent shockwaves in Patna and has put law and order of the state under the spotlight again. The incident has triggered a severe backlash against the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and has provoked angry reactions from across the political spectrum.
Rupesh Kumar Singh (40) was killed with bullets while waiting in his car outside his residence in Punaichak in Patna after his return from office on Tuesday evening.
CCTV footage suggests that two bike-borne assailants rode a motorcycle, police sources said.
The assassins, who had their backs towards the CCTV camera situated on an adjacent street, appeared to have been following Singh from the airport, around three kilometres away. The incident took place just 2 km away from the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's official residence, triggering panic in the state.
Police are expected to study the CCTV footage of the previous day for identifying the attackers.
Even after three days of the brutal murder, Patna Police is yet to make any arrest and officials claimed on Thursday that criminals had used 7.65mm countrymade pistol in the crime. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising of Patna DSP and SP, has been formed to crack the case and arrest the accused at the earliest.
Though police had not shared any information on the murder weapon, sources said that it was made in Munger and hence indicated towards the involvement of local criminals.
Interestingly, the CCTV cameras installed outside Singh's apartment were not functional at the time of the incident. Security guard Manoj told ETV Bharat that CCTV cameras are not working ever since the apartment has been built. The authorities of Jay Prakash Narayan Airport have submitted a memorandum to the Director stating that the culprits must be arrested as soon as possible.
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Nitish assures speedy justice
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed DGP SK Singhal to ensure the arrest of the criminals at the earliest and ensure speedy trial in the case. Kumar has ordered police officials to crack the case within 48 hours and has instructed that accused must be arrested soon.
Opposition launch attack on law and order
The opposition parties have renewed its attack on CM Nitish Kumar and even BJP has not spared JD(U) supremo for the exacerbated law and order situation in the state.
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 said.
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 instil 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."
On the other hand, BJP MLA Nitin Navin said that NDA government does not shield criminals and Patna police is investigating the matter. Navin hit out at Tejashwi Yadav stating that during RJD's regime, there was jungle raj during Lalu Prasad's rule, adding that on what grounds Tejashwi is asking for Nitish's resignation.
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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, JAP Chief Pappu Yadav said, "Nitish-led NDA government in Bihar is shielding goons indulged inland, 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.
RJD leader Shakti Yadav said that no one is safe in Bihar, adding that this is Atank Raj and police is acting as a mute spectator.
However JD(U) party chief Bashistha Narain Singh said that the accused will not be spared and the administration will take strict action. JD (U) leader Sushil Kumar Pintu said that police officers are not performing their duties well and are defaming the government of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
