Patna: Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Saturday slammed chief minister Nitish Kumar over deteriorating law and order in the state after unidentified criminals opened fire at RJD MLA Upendra Paswan in Begusarai on Friday evening. Paswan had a narrow escape.

Tejashwi accused Nitish of plotting a conspiracy to eliminate the RJD MLAs and raised questions over his silence. "Nitish wants to eliminate our MLAs and whenever such incidents take place he turns into a mauni baba (silent monk)," Tejashwi said. "Upendra Paswanji is the fourth RJD MLA who has been attacked ever since Nitish formed a government with the BJP."

The RJD MLA from Bakhri Assembly constituency was attacked at his residence when he was holding a meeting with a few RJD workers in Gadhpura block under Gadhpura police station in Begusarai.

Navan Kishore Mukhiya and Sanjeev Mahto were injured and are being treated at Ruban Memorial Hospital in Patliputra, Patna.

Tejashwi said Nitish does not have any right to speak about changes in society if he cannot improve the law and order situation in the state. He warned Nitish not to "use goons and criminals" to eliminate the RJD MLAs.

Taunting Nitish over getting Z plus security, Tejashwi said the RJD does not have a problem in his getting security but asked who will protect leaders of opposition parties.

He also accused Nitish of blackmailing journalists over advertisement. "Nitish ji threatens journalists with denial of government advertisements if they report about deteriorating law and order in the state. He pressurises journalists not to publish incidents of crime and dacoity," Tejashwi alleged.

Asked about the attack on him, MLA Upendra Paswan said: "I was holding a meeting with worker sitting outside my house. Suddenly, two people came on a bike and fired at me. I escaped but two people got injured. I think my political opponents want to finish me off because I've been doing good work for Dalits and poor people. I am sure it was a plan by my rival to kill me."

Begusarai superintendent of police (SP) Aditya Kumar said three persons were arrested on Saturday in the case related to the firing on the MLA. "Three people have been arrested in the firing incident. During the investigation we found their motive was not to kill the MLA but to create panic in the area. They were, in fact, not aware that the MLA was sitting there,"Aditya said.

The RJD on other hand burnt the effigy of Nitish and deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi at Income Tax roundabout over "deteriorating law and order situation" in the state.

A delegation led by RJD state unit president Ram Chandra Purbey on Saturday submitted a two-page memorandum to director-general of police (DGP) P.K. Thakur over the issue.