PURNIA (Bihar), JAN 4
Ruling BJP MLA from Purnia Raj Kishore Keshari was on Tuesday stabbed to death at his residence here in full public view by a woman who had earlier accused him of sexual harassment.
Four-time MLA, 51-year-old Keshari, was meeting visitors from his constituency at his Sipahi Tola residence here when Rupam Pathak stabbed him fatally in the spleen, Director General of Police (DGP) Neelmani told PTI in Patna.
The profusely bleeding MLA was rushed to a nearby hospital, but succumbed to his injuries on the way, doctors said.
Visitors caught 45-year-old Pathak, beat her up and handed her over to the police.
The police admitted the woman, who had lodged a sexual harassment case six months ago against the MLA, to a government hospital.
Neelmani ordered Purnia Superintendent of Police N H Khan to ensure that the chargesheet in the case was filed within the next two days.
Additional Director General of Police (Hqs) P K Thakur said the murder was premeditated and not a result of anger by Pathak that the police did not look into her complaint.
He said the woman had retracted her statement of sexual harassment against the MLA before a first class judicial magistrate and her husband too had recorded his statement in support of the MLA.
“We are probing the case from all angles,” he said.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed the DGPs to constitute a high-level probe team, review the security of all legislators and ensure that those who visited them were frisked.
Kumar, who asked his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi to rush to the spot, said the BJP MLA’s cremation will take place with full state honours.
The chief minister also appealed to the people and supporters of Keshari in Purnia to maintain peace.
State BJP president C P Thakur condemned the killing and said the case must be investigated thoroughly.
“We will like a thorough probe into the incident,” Thakur said.
He said, “In his (Keshari’s) death, we have lost a young and dedicated soldier of BJP… we pray to God to give enough strength to Keshari’s family and followers to tide over the grief.”
DIG Purnia will probe the murder.
Condemning the killing of his party MLA, Modi said the matter was being thoroughly probed.
“All aspects involved in the incident will be looked into in the course of inquiry,” he said before leaving for Purnia.
