Patna, June 6: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today ordered a judicial probe into the police firing, which left four persons dead and 12 others injured at Bhajanpura in Forbesganj subdivision of Araria district in Seemanchal (bordering) region, 400km from here, on Friday.

The state cabinet will execute the formalities of the judicial probe tomorrow at its meeting.

“The government will formally request the chief justice of Patna High Court to spare the service of a sitting judge for the purpose,” Nitish told reporters on the sidelines of the janata darbar at his official house here.

The chief minister, who has recommended a CBI investigation into the brutal murder of Dr Budhdeo Singh inside the Gopalganj jail by the prison inmates, said he had directed the home department principal secretary Amir Subhani and additional director-general (ADG), headquarters, Rajyavardhan Sharma to conduct a joint probe into the Forbesganj police firing.

“The two officers have submitted their reports on the incident to me. But the government has decided to go for a judicial probe to ensure neutrality and justice in the case,” Nitish said.

The state human rights commission, too, has taken a suo motu cognisance of the Forbesganj police firing, suggesting its investigation by a “competent authority”.

The police opened fire after a few villagers of Bhajanpura attacked an under-construction glucose and starch factory. The four persons killed in the violence have been identified as Mukhtar Ansari (23), Mustafa Ansari (22), Sazmina Khatoon (40) and her nine-year-old son Sonu.

Explaining the reason for handing over the case of Singh, who was beaten to death by the prison inmates on May 27, the chief minister said: “The government has recommended the case to the CBI taking into account the gravity of the offence.”

The family members of the deceased had met the chief minister yesterday demanding CBI probe.

By handing over the doctor murder case to the CBI and the Forbesganj police firing to a judicial panel, Nitish, apparently silenced the Opposition clamouring for the same.

China visit

Nitish described his visit to China as “Sadbhavana (goodwill) visit” on the invitation of the Chinese ambassador to India. He said in course of his six-day visit to China beginning from June 12, he and the delegation members with him would go to Beijing and Sanghai to attend Buddhist congregations.

“We will also observe the work being done by China in agriculture and electric power sectors.”

Water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary and tourism minister Sunil Kumar Pintu will accompany Nitish on his trip abroad.