Tuesday, January 18 2005 16:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Giridih (Jharkhand): Three persons, including two contractors were detained by Giridih police today (Jan 18, 2005) in connection with the gunning down of the CPI-ML (Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist) legislator Mahendra Singh at Bagodar in the district.

The police also seized the motorcycle used in committing the crime, district police super Deepak Verma said.

Verma said that the three - Bihari Prasad, Chotelal Prasad (both contractors) and their 'munsi' (supervisor) Ritlal Mandal, a resident of Atka village in Bagodar were rounded up from their houses today morning.

He said that the motorcycle suspected have been used in committing the crime was purchased three months ago but had no registration number as yet.

The two-wheeler was being used by Mandal and the police were investigating about its owner, he said.

However, Mandal had told the police in the course of the interrogations that the extremists had forcibly taken away the motorcycle from him and returned it after committing the crime. He had, however, not lodged any report with the police, Verma said.

Bihari Prasad said that the report was not lodged with the police fearing repercussions from naxalite outfits as well as the CPI-ML(L), to which the MLA belonged.