KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, Nov 14: Shops and business establishments in Chakradharpur and Chaibasa remained shut on Monday in response to a call given by various right-wing outfits after the murder of Kamaldeo Giri on Saturday evening.
Kamaldeo Giri (40) who was convener of Giriraaj Sena was killed on being attacked with country-made bombs by unidentified assailants near Bharat Bhawan Chowk in Chakradharpur in West Singhbhum district at about 7 pm on Saturday.
As the Bharat Bhawan Chowk area is a Muslim-dominated area and a Hindu leader, Pradeep Sahu, was gunned down in the same area in the year 2007, Kamaldeo’s murder triggered tension across Chakradharpur and beyond.
Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces have been made in the railway township and also at the West Singhbhum district headquarters in Chaibasa in view of the bandh call.
West Singhbhum SP Ashutosh Shekhar said they are yet to detect those responsible for the murder of Kamaldeo Giri.
“We are trying to detect the case at the earliest. It is to be found out whether it is a political murder or something else. We have identified one of the attackers and the mystery behind the killing can be unfolded after the suspected attacker is caught,” said Ashutosh Shekhar while talking to lagatar24.com.
The slain Giriraaj Sena leader had developed considerable popularity in the tiny township and reflected in thousands of mourners who had turned up during the funeral procession of the leader on Sunday.
During the funeral procession, the participants had turned violent as it was passing through Pawan Chowk on way to the cremation ground on Sunday. A section of agitated processionists damaged about half-a-dozen shops and also a police vehicle, leading the police party that was escorting the processionists to resort to mild lathi-charge and firing tear gas shells.
The police had to resort to such measures as a section of the local residents had started pelting stones at the processionists.
Many, however, maintain it to be a political murder given the rising popularity of Kamaldeo. Moreover, the departed leader had also declared that he would contest for the prime post of the Chakradharpur Nagar Parishad, the election of which are around the corner. The local legislator is JMM’s Sukhdev Oraon.
