Jeweller among three arrested in connection with Bihar under secretary murder

Rajeev Kumar, an under secretary with the state planning department, was shot dead by unidentified persons inside his official residence on the early morning of August 14 in Patna and the miscreants had decamped with around ₹40,000 and some jewelleries.

Three persons, including a jeweller, were arrested on Friday in connection with the murder of an under secretary rank officer in Patna earlier this week, a senior district police officer said.

14 police officials were suspended following the murder and robbery. (AP/Picture for representation)

“Police have arrested three persons in connection with the murder of under-secretary Rajeev Kumar on Tuesday last (August 14)... A jeweller is among those arrested,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manu Maharaj told reporters in Patna.

Rajeev Kumar, an under secretary with the state planning department, was shot dead by unidentified persons inside his official residence on the early morning of August 14 in Patna and the miscreants had decamped with around ₹40,000 and some jewelleries.

Baikunth, a jeweller from Bihiya Bazar in Bhojpur district, who had bought the looted jewelleries, was arrested, Maharaj said. The other two arrested have been identified as Shravan and Sunny, both aged between 20-22, the SSP said.

Four persons had gone to the deceased’s house with an intention to loot cash and other valuables, the SSP said, that efforts are on to nab the other two accused, identified as Rahul and Krishna.

Out of the looted amount of ₹40,000, police have recovered ₹28,000 from them, Maharaj said.

Four pistols have been recovered from the arrested criminals, he said, adding that these youths were involved in petty offences like theft and used to live in the slum located behind the government quarter where the under secretary resided.

Notably, 14 police officials, including the inspector in-charge of the police station concerned, were suspended following the incident that took place barely a few 100 metres from the state assembly building.