Laddan Mian, suspected to be the main conspirator in the killing of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan in Bihar’s Siwan district, surrendered on Thursday, police said.
Laddan Mian is also considered close to jailed former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Mohammad Shahabuddin.
Laddan Mian, however, has denied having any role in Ranjan’s murder, saying, “I know nothing about the killing. I had no enmity towards the journalist.”
Meanwhile, the police has already arrested five sharp shooters from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who had fired at Ranjan on May 13.
According to police sources, Laddan Mian is believed to be close associate of former RJD MP Shahabuddin. Sources also say that Laddan Mian who came out of jail on April 27 was given contract to eliminate Rajdev Ranjan.
“He has surrendered before the chief judicial magistrate in Siwan district court,” a district police officer said.
Bihar Police ADGP Sunil Kumar had earlier said that the five men were engaged by contract killer Mian, known to be close to former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin. Bihar Police had earlier said that initial investigations into the murder of Hindustan daily’s Siwan bureau chief Ranjan, indicated at the possible involvement of jailed RJD leader Mohammed Shahabuddin.
The ADGP said that Ranjan was shot from point blank range.
Mian, who had been released from jail 15 days before Ranjan’s murder, left Siwan with his family two hours after the crime, the top cop said.
Ranjan, a journalist with over 20 years of experience and the bureau chief of the Hindi daily Hindustan, was shot dead in Bihar’s Siwan district.
Five shots were fired at him from extremely close range near Siwan’s railway station.
Ranjan was rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead.
