Ara: Three key accused in the murder of social activist Md Jafi, who was shot dead at his residence in Bhojpur district on Sept 11, surrendered before a court in Ara on Wednesday amid an intensified police crackdown.Md Jafi (48), a resident of Islamganj locality in Garhani village under Charpokhari police station area, was known locally for campaigning against illicit drug peddling. Following his murder, police registered an FIR against seven named accused on the complaint of the victim’s mother, who identified the three men as the principal accused in the case.According to police, the accused who surrendered are Md Salim Ansari alias Babloo, his son Md Arzoo, and Md Waris alias Bittu, all residents of the same locality where the murder took place.Bhojpur SP Awadhesh Kumar Dixit had constituted a special investigation team headed by Piro SDPO Kanhaiya Kumar to trace and arrest those involved in the killing. Police said sustained raids and pressure mounted by the investigation team forced the accused to surrender before the court.“Due to continuous raids being conducted by the Bhojpur police to arrest the accused persons in the Md Jafi murder case, three main named accused surrendered before an Ara court on Wednesday. Efforts are underway to obtain the accused on remand and recover the weapons allegedly used in the crime. Raids are continuing to apprehend the remaining accused named in the FIR,” SDPO Kanhaiya Kumar said.Meanwhile, the SP has suspended an assistant sub-inspector and a police chowkidar for alleged negligence and delayed response despite being informed about the incident by villagers. Locals also called for a bandh on Sept 19 if all the accused are not arrested by then.
