Bihar journalist murder: CM Nitish Kumar recommends CBI probe

New Delhi: Under attack from the Opposition over journalist Rajdeo Ranjan 's murder in the Siwan district, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday announced to hand over the probe to CBI following requests from the deceased's family members.

While addressing a press conference in Patna, the Bihar CM said that any attack on the journalists is like an attack on the government itself. 

"We believe that any attack on the journalist is like an attack on the government. I have full faith in the state police but following a request from Rajdeo Ranjan's family, we have decided to hand over the probe to CBI," said Nitish Kumar. 

The chief minister also said that the investigation is being carried out with "highest diligence" and police will file a charge sheet at the earliest.

Assuring punishment to the perpetrators, Nitish Kumar said: "The person who has committed the crime will get the strictest punishment under law."

Nitish Kumar's remarks came after people across the state took out protests against the murder of the reporter.

Senior journalist Rajdev Ranjan was on Friday shot dead by unidentified gunmen.

Rajdeo Ranjan, Siwan district chief of Hindi daily "Hindustan", was fired at in Siwan district on Friday late evening when he was going on his motorcycle near the fruit market on Station Road under Town police station at around 7:45 pm.

Ranjan, 45, died on the way to the hospital. 

Ranjan has been writing for a long time against law-breakers of the area. The killing triggered a wave of protests by mediapersons in Bihar.