india

Updated: Nov 12, 2016 23:36 IST

Two journalists were shot dead by unidentified people in separate incidents across Bihar over the last 12 hours, police said on Saturday.

In the first incident, Dharmendra Singh – a 35-year-old reporter with vernacular newspaper Dainik Bhaskar – was killed by three motorcycle-borne people at Amratola, Sasaram, on Saturday morning.

Muffasil police said the attackers shot Singh in the stomach at point blank range while he was having tea at a roadside stall. They believe the incident may be linked to the reporter’s articles on illegal quarrying units in Rohtas district.

Singh was initially taken to the local Sadar Hospital, from where he was referred to a medical institute at Varanasi for further treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries on the way. He is survived by his wife and son.

Rohtas SSP Manavjit Singh Dhillon said the journalist was wanted in an illegal mining case lodged at the Shivsagar police station in 2015, but didn’t explain why he was not arrested.

Inspector general (Patna zone) NH Khan said a special investigation team led by the Shahabad range deputy inspector general has been set up to crack the case.

In the second incident, Ramchandra Yadav, a journalist-turned-village head of Kewatgama panchayat in Darbhanga, was gunned down by unidentified people while he was returning home after meeting a local block development officer.

Kusheshwar Asthan police said the culprits fired Yadav in the back, killing him instantly. The deceased was working for a Hindi daily before he became the mukhia last year.

The two incidents come within six months of the murder of Rajdeo Ranjan, a reporter with a noted vernacular newspaper. He was shot dead near Siwan railway junction on May 13, while he was returning from work.