Suspects in journalist Rajdeo Ranjan’s murder disappear from Siwan

Javed, also known as Javed Bhaant, a resident of Shuqla Toli under Town police station and a prime suspect in the murder of Siwan journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, has gone underground with all his family members, police said on Monday.

Mohammad Jimmy, another suspect who had evaded arrest, has also left Siwan with his entire family.

The two suspects disappeared the day when the CBI took up the case and started searching for them. Fearing arrest of their family members to force them to surrender, the duo vanished, leaving no clue for the CBI or police to pick up in Siwan.

Officials said a police team, comprising STF personnel, has been conducting raids at the suspected hideouts of the accused, yet their whereabouts remain a mystery.

On Monday morning, a police team led by sub-inspector Niranjan Kumar raided the house of Javed, but found that the entire family had disappeared. SHO of town police station Subodh Kumar confirmed that a police team raided Javed’s house on instructions of the CBI.

Meanwhile, a regular bail petition of Azharuddin Beg, also known as Laddan Mian, was deferred in the court of district and sessions judge Om Prakash Rai after public prosecutor Harendra Singh pressed for another date to study the case diary and charge-sheet.

Ranjan, 42, the Siwan bureau chief of Hindi daily Hindustan, was shot dead on May 13.

At least five criminals — Rohit (shooter), Rishu, Sonu, Vijay and Rajesh — have been arrested, while the suspected main conspirator, Laddan Mian, known to be a close associate of Shahabuddin, surrendered before the court in connection with Rajdeo’s murder.

In the course of interrogation, Rohit revealed that Laddan, Kaif, Javed, Jimmy and Sonu had taken up position from one side (near railway over bridge) when he shot Rajdeo.

According to Siwan police, altogether six criminal cases, including attempt to murder, loot, burglary and theft, are pending against Javed Mian at the town police station.