VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR
Hazaribag, May 19: The Hazaribag Police have made a breakthrough in the murder of Sharad Kumar, who was general manager cum project coordinator of Ritwik coal company.
Hazaribag SP Manoj Ratan Chauthe said that after investigation, the police found this case as a well-planned murder with a conspiracy chalked out in three different jails, including Calcutta, Dumka and Hazaribag.
Giving details, Chauthe said dreaded gangster Aman Sahu is behind this murder. He said when the murder was executed on May 9, at that time Sahu was produced by police in Ramgarh court.
About the murder, Chauthe said it was planned by Sahu from the Calcutta jail where he was lodged in the month of April. Investigation made the police come to pieces of evidence that Sahu contacted his men lodged in Dumka jail to eliminate Sharad. Sahu’s men contacted criminals lodged in Hazaribag jail and a plan was made to kill Sharad. All monitoring was done from the Hazaribag central jail.
Police investigation confirmed that one Rama Soni provided all support at the local level. Shooter Chandan Sahu committed this crime assisted by five more shooters. Chandan is a dreaded criminal and is involved in a firing on a mall in Barkagaon. He recently came out of jail. Police said this murder is connected with Bihar also as few shooters are from there. But Chauthe refused to reveal the names of other shooters saying that it will affect the ongoing investigation.
Police officials said they are trying to find out as why Sharad sat in the front seat of the SUV and his bodyguard in the backseat. Even he visits the mine area rarely and that too in a bulletproof vehicle. We are working on it also, they added.
Police investigation confirmed that Ritwik company agreed to pay a levy to Aman Sahu but refused later. This angered Sahu who decided to eliminate top officer Sharad so as to spark panic in the area.
Sources said the police are also investigating the role of Ritwik company GM Bhaskar Singh. Chauthe said the technical cell came to know that Bhaskar had talked to Rama Soni around thirty times recently before the murder. Each call was of the duration of five to seven minutes, added he. Chauthe said Rama Soni is one of the main accused in this case and his conversation with Bhaskar is hinting towards his involvement as well. We are investigating this angle also, added he. Chauthe said they will soon take Aman Sahu on remand.
