Hazaribagh, March 15: The Rashtriya Janata Dal could demand a CBI inquiry into the murder of 54-year-old trade union leader Nirmal Yadav.

Unidentified criminals had gunned down Yadav at Urimari in Ramgarh, about 83 km from here, on Monday.

Attending the last rites of the slain leader yesterday afternoon, district RJD president Nehru Yadav alleged that the murder was the outcome of a conspiracy by the coal mafia and police.

A probe by the premier agency would expose those involved, he added.

Hundreds thronged the burning ghat on the banks of the Damodar in Kudi Madi village even as the authorities rushed Central Reserve Police Force jawans to prevent any untoward incidents.

Tension ran high in the village, which falls under Urimari block, as Yadav?s supporters raised slogans against the authorities. They also demanded immediate arrest of the criminals who had killed their leader.

The RJD leader said the murders of Yadav, lawyer Prashant Sahay and CPI(ML) legislator Mahendra Prasad Singh were similar in nature, as the criminals wanted each of these killings to serve as a lesson for those who raise their voices against corruption and other evils.

?But we will definitely take a stand this time,? he added.

Sources said the murder of Yadav, who was the president of Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Sangh in the Barka Sayal zone, could lead to heightened rivalry between two groups of local trade union leaders.

?We will decide our course of action after Holi,? said a source close to Yadav.

Police, however, were yet to make any breakthroughs. ?We will raid some areas after Holi to catch the culprits,? said a police source.