Several women's organisations took to the streets demanding resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi for terming Rupam Pathak,who had allegedly stabbed MLA Rajkishore Keshari to death,as a 'blackmailer'. The organisations under the banner of Bihar Women's Network and All India Mahila Sanskritik Manch (AIMSS) blocked the busy the Dakbunglow roundabout for over an hour and raised anti-government and anti-Modi slogans for allegedly trying to scuttle a CBI probe into the incident. All India Progressive Women Association (AIPWA),a CPI-ML (Liberation) affiliated organisation,took out a separate demonstration expressing solidarity with Pathak and demanding a high level judicial probe into the incident,under the purview of which Modi should be brought. On January 4,the day of the murder,Modi had said Rupam was trying to blackmail Keshri. State DGP Neelmani,however,said there was no evidence to suggest that she had ever 'blackmailed' the slain legislator. AIPWA general secretary Meena Tiwari and Bihar Women's Network leaders also demanded intervention of National Human Rights Commission and National Women's Commission into the incident,ensuring that Rupam's human rights were not violated in judicial custody and enhancing security cover to Rupam and Navlesh Pathak's family. Navlesh Pathak,who is also in judicial custody along with Rupam,is a Purnia based journalist who had published alleged sexual harassment of Rupam Pathak by the MLA in his tabloid. The demonstration by the women's organisations has thrown traffic movement in the state capital out of gear for several hours.
