Samata leader killed in court premises

By Our Special Correspondent

PATNA, APRIL 19. Dreaded criminal and undertrial prisoner, Madhusudan Singh, alias Bhuttan Singh, who is also the Samata Party district president of Purnea and husband of Samata MLA, Mrs. Lesie Singh, was killed at the gate of the Purnea court premises today.

The DGP, Mr. K.A. Jacob, told The Hindu that Bhuttan Singh had on his own, accompanied by his two friends and not the police, gone from the Purnea jail to the court where he was required to be produced today. He was killed by unidentified assailants while returning after registering his presence in the court.

The DGP maintained it was irregular for the jail authorities to have allowed him to go to the court without police escort. It seemed that it was a regular feature for the notorious criminal to take the law into his own hands and produce himself before the court on his own.

The killing of the gangster led to arson with his supporters burning down at least three government jeeps in the court premises. Three of Bhuttan Singh's supporters, however, were injured when the security personnel of a business establishment fired at them when they tried to force the market place to a close.

The former Chief Minister, and Samata Party leader, Mr. Nitish Kumar, who is likely to pay a visit to the spot tomorrow, has demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister, charging that she was not in a position to handle the law and order situation.

Later in the day, the Chief Minister, Mrs. Rabri Devi, held a high-level meeting and expressed concern over the killing and the arson that followed and directed the DGP to step up security measures at court premises and residences of judges. She also ordered a high-level enquiry and action within 24 hours for the lapse on the part of officials allowing Bhuttan Singh to go to court on his own.

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