Bokaro: A former zila parishad president, Rakesh Mahto, who was also a member of the ruling JMM, was murdered, allegedly near Ghutwali under the jurisdiction of the Nimiaghat police station in Giridih district, with the accused criminals attempting to burn his body to destroy evidence. Mahato’s half-burnt body was recovered from the Khankhi forest early on Saturday morning, triggering widespread outrage.The crime came to light when a woman heading to the fields spotted the body and alerted locals. Police reached the spot, took the body into custody, and launched a probe. Dumri sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Sumit Kumar is leading the investigation under the direction of Giridih SP Bimal Kumar.Angered by the killing, the irate villagers blocked the Dumri-Phusro road, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits and a high-level inquiry into the incident.Mukesh Mahto, the brother of the deceased, claimed that Mahto had several enemies and said, “I last met him on Friday evening.”SDPO Sumit Kumar said, “We are examining all angles. Forensic experts and a sniffer dog squad are pressed into service to solve the crime.”Sources said police are also probing to ascertain whether petrol was siphoned off his motorcycle to set the body on fire. Rakesh Mahto, a locally well-known leader, became the zila parishad president in 2016. Leaders of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) expressed grief and demanded swift action, while BJP criticised the state govt over the incident for the deteriorating law and order.State minister Sudibya Kumar said the mobile phone of the deceased was active until midnight, and police were analysing his last call details.
