MLC Ashok Kumar Agarwal (Kaushik Kar)

Patna, July 17: Bihar Legislative Council member Ashok Kumar Agarwal allegedly shot dead his employee Dheeraj Kumar this morning at his Mirchayibari house in Katihar with the licensed carbine of his bodyguard.

The BJP MLC — a renowned industrialist of Seemanchal region — went into hiding after the incident, sparking tension in the border town, around 320km northeast of the state capital. The legislator’s bodyguard, Brahmadeo Yadav, has been detained for interrogation and his firearm has been seized.

Police sources said Agarwal allegedly lost his temper after Dheeraj (around 30) refused to go to Araria for supervising the road construction work allegedly being carried out by the legislator’s firm. Infuriated over the refusal, the MLC allegedly snatched the carbine of his bodyguard and fired at Dheeraj from close range. The victim, deputed as a munshi (caretaker) at the leader’s fuel outlet on Katihar-Purnea road, died on the spot.

The MLC denied the charge and said Dheeraj died in accidental firing. “My bodyguard’s firearm went off suddenly while he was cleaning it and a stray bullet hit Dheeraj, who was standing nearby,” Agarwal said, adding that there was no point in dragging his name into the murder. “The incident occurred under the shed meant for security personnel and not inside the room,” the MLC told reporters in Katihar before going into hiding.

Dheeraj’s father Arpan Lal Mahto alleged that the MLC killed his son when he refused to go to Araria as he apprehended trouble there. “There was some dispute with the residents of the area at the construction site. The MLC wanted to shift Dheeraj from Katihar to Araria but he blatantly refused,” Mahto said.

Dheeraj’s brother, Neeraj, refused to buy the MLC’s argument citing that the bullet had hit the forehead of the victim, a resident of Gamitola in Katihar town. “Had there been an accidental firing, the bullet would have perhaps hit other parts of Dheeraj’s body and not the forehead. How can a stray bullet hit between the forehead and eyes,” said Neeraj, a journalist associated with a vernacular daily.

As the news about the firing at the MLC’s residence spread, a large number of residents rushed to the spot and started a road blockade near Shaheed Chowk demanding immediate arrest of the MLC. Sources said the police used force to shoo away the protesters when they tried to intercept the vehicle carrying Dheeraj. The road blockade was continuing till the time of filing the report.

Acting superintendent of police of Katihar Yugal Kishore Sinha said the MLC’s bodyguard had been taken into custody and his firearm seized. “It is being verified if the incident occurred because of an accidental firing or the bullet was fired intentionally,” he added.

When asked about the role of the ruling party MLC in the incident, deputy inspector-general (Purnea range) Bachchu Singh Meena said instructions had been issued to the police officers concerned to take action according to the rule. “Vidhi sammat kaarwai karne ka nirdesh diya gaya hai (instructions have been given to take action according to the prescribed rule,” he said.

Meena told The Telegraph that the role of the MLC would be investigated.

The SP said a named FIR has been lodged against the MLC by Neeraj. On how many bullets hit the victim, the SP said: “It can be confirmed only after the receipt of the autopsy report.”

Agarwal’s son’s name had figured in the police firing on the members of a community at Forbesganj in Araria district on June 3, 2011. Four persons, including an infant, died in the incident. The industrialist was stated to be a shareholder in the factory that was to come up on the land allotted by Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority. The government later announced a judicial probe into the firing.