FEBRUARY 01, 2009 Journalist Uma Singh was murdered by killers hired by her sister-in-law for Rs 150,000, policesaid in a press conference Thursday.
Lalita Devi Singh hired the killers affiliated with an underground criminal outfit in a bid to secure her claim to family property, Dhanusha police said after a thorough investigation into the murder case.Police made public the main accused Lalita, her son Abhishek Singh, one Shrawan Yadav and Newalal Paswan during the press conference.
Police have concluded that Lalita was behind the murder after interrogating her following a lead that pointed at her involvement in the gruesome murder on January 11, Dhanusha Superintendent of Police Yadav Raj Khanal said.
Police revealed that Lalita hired the group for Rs 150,000 after her mother-in-law transferred two katthas of land to Uma's ownership. The land previously belonged to Uma's mother.
Lalita had been issuing threats after the ownership transfer, police said. Lalita paid the group the sum after bargaining with one Umesh Yadav alias Swamiji.
Lalita had revealed this arrangement in a telephone conversation with her son Abhishek, who was living with his uncle in Sitamadi, India, a few months before Uma's murder.
Lalita had told Abhishek that Umesh Yadav had demanded Rs 50,000 of the agreed sum immediately "to kill your aunt". Abhishek told police that he had urged his mother to settle the family dispute by taking another course, instead of murder.
Lalita has admitted to the police that she was helped by Maoist in-charge of Siraha-5 Shrawan Yadav, despite not getting any help from Yadav's party in connection with the murder of her husband and father-in-law. Shrawan is also in police custody for involvement in Uma's murder.
Police have detained and released hundreds so far in the course of investigation. But Lalita Devi, Abhishek, Shrawan Yadav, Newlal Paswan, Bimlesh Jha, Jagat Yadav and Bindeswore Sah remained in custody.
Police are continuing with the investigation.
(Source: www.myrepublica.com)
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