Journalism of Courage
Bihar Police seized 17 mobile phones and 20 SIM cards during a raid in Siwan jail on Sunday in connection with journalist Rajdev Ranjan’s murder.
The raid came days after former RJD MP Mohammed Shahabuddin, whose role in the case is under the scanner, and seven of his alleged supporters were shifted from the district jail. While Shahabuddin was moved to the Bhagalpur central jail, the others were shifted to jails in Gaya, Motihari and Buxar.
Police conducted the raid after getting leads about the alleged contract killers and facilitators of the crime receiving or making calls to a phone with tower location inside Siwan jail on the day of the Ranjan’s murder.
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During an earlier search, police had questioned 63 visitors who were in the jail premises to meet Shahabuddin. Forty-three mobile phones were seized from them. Soon after, Shahabuddin was shifted from Siwan jail.
“Most of the SIM cards could have been taken against fake IDs, but the phone call details will help in helping tracing the conspirators,” said an official.
Siwan police have been looking for sharp shooter Laddan Mian, a prime suspect in the case. Laddan and his family reportedly left Siwan soon after the journalist’s killing. The investigators seemed convinced that it was a case of contract killing.
“Papers were strewn around the crime spot. It suggested that Rajdev was asked for his ID card. He was killed only after the killers established his identity,” said Siwan SP Saurav Kumar Sah.
