Seven held in Ranvir Sena chief killing case

Patna, June 4 (IANS) Seven people were arrested in Bihar's Bhojpur district Monday in connection with the June 1 killing of Ranvir Sena chief Brahmeshwar Singh 'Mukhiya', police said.

A special investigation team of the state police, investigating the sensational murder, arrested the seven people from different villages in Bhojpur, a police official said.

"It's is a big breakthrough in the case," the official said. He, however, refused to give more details.

"The SIT team is interrogating them. But top police officials have directed us not to disclose anything to media as it will hamper the investigation," he told IANS here.

Brahmeshwar Singh, in his 70s, was killed by unidentified gunmen Friday morning in Ara town, district headquarters of Bhojpur, about 60 km from here. He founded Ranvir Sena in 1994. The Sena was widely known as an outlawed upper caste private militia, involved in several massacres.

Soon after his killing, supporters indulged in large scale violence and arson in Ara. They again indulged in violence here during the funeral procession of Bhahmeshwar Singh Saturday.

A five-member SIT, led by a deputy superintendent of police-rank official, began investigation into the case Saturday.