The Police today claimed news channel journalist Akhilesh Pratap Singh was shot dead by activists of the ultra outfit Trutiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) for not meeting their demands for levy.
Addressing a press conference here, Chatra district Superintendent of Police Anjani Jha said one person arrested today in this connection turned out to be a local representative of Simaria BJP MLA Ganesh Ganju.
Police was still in search of the shooter in the case who was identified as Munesh Ganju, mastermind of the incident Mukesh Ganju and another TPC ultra, Jha said adding the accused had demanded Rs seven lakh levy for a contract, which the journalist had reportedly bagged.
The murdered journalist used to do some contract work for DVC in Rajpur police station limits, he said.
The Police had already arrested Birbal Sao, a native of Mayurhund block, and Jhaman Kumar of Lawalong yesterday.
Suraj Sao, the representative of MLA Ganesh Ganju, was arrested today, the SP said.
In the mean time, MLA Ganju today demanded for CBI probe into the killing of journalist Akhilesh Singh (35), who was shot dead by unknown assailants near Dewaria panchayat secretariat on May 12, triggering widespread condemnation of the attacks on journalists across the country.
To ensure a fair and impartial probe, I would request you to recommend a CBI probe into the killing of the journalist to provide justice to the family members as well as the journalist fraternity, Ganju in a letter to Chief Minister Raghubar Das, said.
No innocent should be implicated in the case and culprits should not go free, he said.
Earlier, Chief Minister Das had asked Director General of Police D K Pandey to arrest the culprits at the earliest.
A delegation of local journalists had met Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar and Superintendent of Police Anjani Jha following the incident and demanded adequate compensation for the family of the victim.
