Sunday, January 16 2005 20:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal president Laloo Prasad today (Jan 16, 2005) condemned the gunning down of veteran CPI-ML (Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation leader in Jharkhand, Mahendra Prasad Singh, and demanded a high-level probe into the incident. ''Mahendra Prasad Singh was a strong leader of Jharkhand who had served as MLA thrice. I condemn in strong words the gunning down of Singh,'' Laloo told reporters.

The RJD chief, who is also the Railway Minister, demanded a high-level probe into the killing of the MLA.

Singh, who had filed his nomination for Bagodar Assembly seat in Jharkhand yesterday, was gunned down by suspected CPI (Maoist) ultras near Saria in Giridih district.

Meanwhile, the party flag at CPI-ML headquarters in Patna was lowered as news of Singh's murder came.

State party secretary Ram Jatan Sharma termed the killing as 'politically motivated' and demanded immediate arrest of the MLA's killers.