Jitan Ram Manjhi's kin arrested in murder case

GAYA: In an embarrassment to the former chief minister and HAM (secular) president Jitan Ram Manjhi, his son-in-law and grandson were arrested here today in connection with the alleged murder of his granddaughter-in-law.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Gaya, Garima Malik told reporters here Manjhi's grandson Vikki Manjhi and his father Yogendra Manjhi were arrested and charged with the murder of Vikki's 25-year-old wife Soni Devi on Saturday last.

Vikki's mother Sunaina Devi, who is the eldest daughter of Jitan Ram Manjhi and a ward member of Gaya Municipal Corporation, was allowed to go home following interrogation at a police station although the investigation in her role will continue, she said.

Soni Devi was allegedly murdered at her husband's home in Gaya town on the intervening night of December 19-20 and she was cremated by her kin at Vishnupad ghat the next morning, Malik said.

Her father Ramdev Manjhi, a native of Sugaon village under Makhdumpur police station area in neighbouring Jehanabad district, had lodged an FIR charging his son-in-law and other family members with murdering his daughter and destruction of evidence.