Ara, June 1 (PTI): Brahmeshwar Singh, the chief of Bihar’s outlawed private militia of landlords, Ranvir Sena, was shot dead today by six unidentified gunmen who pumped several bullets into him while he was taking an early morning walk.

Violence broke out in the district headquarters town of Ara in Bhojpur district after the killing of Singh alias Mukhiyaji, in his early 70s, and a high alert was sounded in Bihar.

Curfew was clamped in Ara but it was lifted in the afternoon after a high-level review of the situation by senior state officials. The situation in the district was described as tense but under control.

Director-general of police Abhayanand, who is camping at the spot, was heckled by local people who charged him with failure to provide security to Singh.

Singh, the founder of the Sena, was taking a stroll when six unidentified gunmen armed with sophisticated weapons pumped several bullets into him, killing him on the spot at Katira Mohalla under Nawada police station, 71km from Patna, police said.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar appealed for calm and said investigations were under way to track down the killers.

Singh, who faced life imprisonment in several cases of carnage he had perpetrated on the lower caste landless poor, including in Laxmanpur Bathe where 61 Dalits were massacred in December, 1996, was acquitted and released from jail in April this year.

As the news of the killing spread, hundreds of Sena supporters gathered at the site of the killing and shouted anti-government slogans.

A vehicle torched by angry supporters of Brahmeshwar Singh Mukhiya, chief of Ranvir Sena, who was killed at Ara on Friday. (PTI)

The Sena men also tried to chase policemen, including the superintendent of police, who had arrived at the spot and later clashed with policemen and burnt five private and government vehicles, sources said.

Hundreds of people took out processions in the district. The private bus operators suspended bus services from Patna causing immense hardships to passengers in the area.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC would remain in force, sub-divisional police officer Dharmesh Kumar said, adding the situation was tense but under control.

The main Opposition parties — the RJD, Congress and the LJP demanded a CBI probe into the killing of Singh.

Union home secretary to visit: Union home secretary R.K. Singh will visit Bihar tomorrow and review the law and order situation there in the wake of killing of Singh.

The home secretary, who is currently visiting Shillong, will travel to Patna directly in a pre-scheduled visit to review the law and order situation in Bihar.

Official sources said today’s incident in Ara, where six unidentified gunmen shot dead the Ranvir Sena chief, would figure in the review meeting with state government officials as it is a sensitive issue and can have long term law and order repercussions.

Home ministry officials are in constant touch with Bihar government officials and keeping a close eye on the situation there in the wake of some sporadic incidents after the killing.

Sources said so far the Bihar government has neither sought any additional central force to deal with the situation arising out of the killing nor did the home ministry ask for any report.