Date:23/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/23/stories/2004112306441300.htm

National

Paswan demands CBI probe into all abductions in Bihar

By Our Special Correspondent

PATNA, NOV. 22. The Lok Janshakti Party chief and Minister for Chemicals, Fertilizers and Steel, Ram Vilas Paswan, today demanded that the CBI, probing the abduction of the two officials of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, should investigate all the kidnapping cases reported in the State over the past two years.

He was reacting to the police raids on the residences of his party legislators in connection with the case.

Mr. Paswan saidthe State Government was carrying out apolitical vendetta and trying to cover up its failures.

The State police had raided the house of the LJP legislators, Vijay Shukla alias Munna Shukla and Rajan Tiwari, now in jail, to get clues tothe abduction of the NHPC general manager, T. Mandal, and the chief engineer, K.K. Singh, last week.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, had said that the abductions were a conspiracy hatched in view of the approaching Bihar Assembly elections. His party colleague and the Union Rural Development Minister, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, had said that the LJP harboured `criminal elements'.

Demands explanation

Mr. Paswan said Mr. Prasad and the RJD-led Government would have to explain the law and order situation during the past five years.

Meanwhile, the NHPC Chairman, Yogendra Prasad, urged the Chief Minister, Rabri Devi, to ensure the immediate release of the officials.

He announced a Rs. 5 lakh reward for anyone providing clues to the police. Mr. Yogendra Prasad said the abduction was part of a conspiracy to impede the State's development but would not comment on the nature of the conspiracy.