Woman kills Bihar legislator who allegedly raped her (Third Lead)

PATNA - A woman teacher Tuesday knifed to death Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Raj Kishore Kesri at his home in Bihar’s Purnia town, alleging he had raped her for over three years. The BJP termed it a conspiracy and demanded a CBI probe.

As other visitors at Kesri’s home watched in horror, Rupam Pathak suddenly whipped out a hidden knife and attacked the 51-year-old politician, police and witnesses said.

Police officer P.K. Thakur said the attack proved fatal as the knife damaged the spleen.

A relative of the dead politician said he saw Kesri fall from his chair but initially thought he had simply slipped.

“I wondered why he was not getting up,” S. Kumar told reporters at the site. “It is only when I went to pick him up that I realised that he was bleeding profusely.”

Even as Kesri’s stunned guards overpowered the woman, the BJP leader was rushed to a hospital where doctors pronounced him dead after trying to revive him.

Rupam Pathak was thrashed by a mob at the site. Officer Thakur denied this, but journalists saw her crying, apparently in pain, in a police van. In view of the tension in Purnia, Pathak was shifted to Katihar.

“She has been admitted to the Katihar Medical College and Hospital in Katihar district. She was in a critical condition after being beaten by Kesri’s security guards and supporters,” a district official said.

A police officer told IANS over the telephone from Purnia that the school teacher had last year accused Kesri of raping her and lodged a criminal case against him.

But Thakur said the woman had subsequently withdrawn the rape charge.

A local political activist told IANS that Rupam Pathak had withdrawn the case before October-November Bihar assembly polls after she was promised huge amount by Kesdri because he was contesting from Purnia seat.”But after Kesri won the seat, Rupam Pathak was not given the amount promised,she was upset and taken extreme step in revenge.Though it is a matter of probe” he said.

A police officer told IANS over phone from Purnia that the school teacher had last year accused Kesri of raping her and lodged a criminal case against him. But Thakur said Pathak had subsequently withdrawn the rape charge.

A local political activist told IANS that Pathak had withdrawn the case before the October-November Bihar assembly polls after she was promised a huge amount by Kesri because he was contesting from the Purnia seat.

“But after Kesri won, Rupam Pathak was not given the amount promised…she was upset and must have taken the extreme step in revenge,” he said.

While Purnia saw a total shutdown, BJP termed it a big conspiracy and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe even though Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a high-level inquiry into the killing.

“We have demanded a CBI probe,” BJP’s Rajendra Gupta said.

Deputy Inspector General (Purnia Range) Amit Kumar, who was directed by the state government to probe the case, said police have began investigations and will submit the report as soon as possible.

The news of the killing spread rapidly across Bihar, where the BJP is the junior ally of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal-United (JD-U).

Nitish Kumar expressed shock over the incident and ordered a probe.

BJP leaders rubbished Pathak’s allegation and called her a blackmailer. “She was blackmailing Kesri and demanded money,” said Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, a senior BJP leader.

Modi claimed that Kesri was given a clean chit in the case by the police.