Now a cow link to VHP leader killing

Jharkhand BJP leaders met Chief Minister Arjun Munda today to present a report protesting against the daylight murder of VHP leader Ramesh K...

Jharkhand BJP leaders met Chief Minister Arjun Munda today to present a report protesting against the daylight murder of VHP leader Ramesh Kumar Sahu on Friday, and alleging the hand of Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) ultras with links to cattle-smugglers in the murder.

A member of the Ram Rekha Dham Mandir Committee and a resident of Simedega, Sahu had been leading a VHP-sponsored movement against the sale and unlawful transportation of cattle from interior areas of the region to slaughter houses in Kolkata in West Bengal and Bangladesh. The animals were bought from far-flung villages of Simdega, Gumla, Lohardaga and Ranchi districts.

The BJP report, drafted by spokesperson U.S. Kedia, alleges that every transporter who ferries the animals to Kolkata or Dhaka bribes local policemen.

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On Friday at around 10.30 am, Sahu and former MLA Nirmal Kumar Besra left Simdega for the Ram Rekha Dham Mandir on a motorcycle. The temple is located in a dense forest.

Quoting eye-witnesses, Kedia says the two came under fire when they entered the forest. While Sahu died on the spot, Besra was injured and taken to hospital. His condition is stated to be normal.

‘‘Witnesses said three motorcycle-borne armed men belonging to the MCC had gunned him down,” Sahu’s son Anil says in the FIR lodged at the Simdega police station.

Police are yet to make any arrests in the case. Asked if they had found any evidence of a link between the MCC and cattle-smugglers, Simdega police station Sub-Inspector Binod Kumar chose not to reply. But ASI B. Bhagat said they too had heard the rumours.